Kussmaul breathing is deep, gasp-like breathing that is labored and irregular. It is sometimes referred to as air hunger.

Kussmaul breathing has been linked to metabolic acidosis, a condition where acid levels in the blood are too high. There are several forms of metabolic acidosis, including diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and lactic acidosis. The body attempts to correct acidic conditions in the blood through deep breathing. This lowers the amount of carbon dioxide in the body and helps correct irregularities in blood chemistry. In some cases, metabolic acidosis continues to advance and may potentially lead to a coma.

There are several potential causes of metabolic acidosis that can lead to Kussmaul breathing. In patients with diabetes, infections and illness, missed doses of insulin, damaged or spoiled insulin or failure of an insulin pump can lead to DKA and Kussmaul breathing. Kussmaul breathing may also occur as the first symptom experienced by a patient with undiagnosed type 1 diabetes. In patients who do not have diabetes, Kussmaul breathing may be a symptom of kidney or liver failure, alcohol or drug abuse or severe diarrhea.