- A - A1c: A test that measures a person's average blood glucose level over the past 2 to 3 months. Haemoglobin is the part of a red blood cell that carries oxygen to the cells and sometimes joins with the glucose in the bloodstream. Also called haemoglobin, the test shows the amount of glucose that sticks to the red blood cell, which is proportional to the amount of glucose in the blood. Acanthosis nigricans: A skin condition characterised by dark patches, common in people whose body is not responding correctly to the insulin that they make in their pancreas. This skin condition is also seen in people who have pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes.
ACE inhibitor: An oralmedicine that lowers blood pressure, ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme. For people with diabetes, especially those who have protein in the urine, it also helps slow kidney damage.
Acetohexamide: An oral medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It lowers blood glucose by helping the pancreas make more insulin and by helping the body better use the insulin it makes.
Acetone: A chemical found in the blood when the body uses fat instead of glucose for energy. When acetone is present it can mean that the cells do not have enough insulin.
Adult-onset diabetes: Former term for non insulin-dependant or type 2 diabetes.
Alpha: A type of cell in the pancreas. Alpha cells make and release a hormone called glucagons. The body sends a signal to the alpha cells to make glucagons when blood glucose falls too low. The glucagons reaches the liver where it tells it to release glucose into the blood for energy.
Aspart: Rapid acting insulin. On average, aspart insulin starts to lower blood glucose within 10 to 20 minutes after injection. It has its strongest effect 1 to 3 hours after injection but keeps working for 3 to 5 hours after injection.
|
|
- B - Basel rate: A steady acting trickle of low levels of longer acting insulin, such as that used in insuline pumps. Beta cell: A cell that makes insulin. Beta cells are located in the islets of the pancreas.
Blood glucose: The main sugar found in the blood and the body's main source of energy. Also called blood sugar.
Blood glucose levels: The amount of glucose in a given amount of blood.
Blood glucose meter: A small portable machine used by people with diabetes to check their blood glucose levels. After pricking the skin with a lancet, one places a drop of blood on a test strip in the machine. The meter (or monitor) soon displays the blood glucose levels as a number on the meters digital display.
Blood glucose monitoring: Checking blood glucose levels on a regular basis in order to manage diabetes. A blood glucose meter is needed for frequent blood glucose monitoring.
Blood pressure: The force of blood exerted on the inside walls of blood vessels. Blood pressure is expressed as a ration (e.g. 120/80) The first number is the systolic pressure, or the pressure when the heart pushed blood out into the arteries. The second number is the diastolic pressure, or the pressure when the heart rests.
Blood vessels: Tubes that carry blood to and from all parts of the body. The three main types of blood vessels are arteries, veins and capillaries.
Body Mass Index (BMI): A measure used to evaluate body weight relative to a person's height. BMI is used to find out if a person is underwiegh, normal weight, over weight, over weight, or obese.
Bolus: An extra amount of insulin taken to cover an expected rise in blood glucose, often related to a meal or snack.
Borderline diabetes: A former term for type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance.
Brittle diabetes: A term used when a person's blood glucose level moves often from low to high or high to low.
|
|
- C - Carbohydrate: One of the three main nutrients in food. Foods that provide carbohydrate are starches, vegetables, fruits, dairy products and sugars. Cardiologist: A doctor who treats people who have heart problems.
Coma: A sleep-like state in which a person is not conscious. May be caused by hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose) or hypoglyceamia (low blood glucose) in people with diabetes.
Complications: Harmful effects of diabetes such as damage to the eyes, heart, bood vessels, nervous system, teeth, gums, feet and skin, or kidneys. Studies show that keepimh blood glucose, blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels close to normal can help prevent or delay these problems.
C-peptide: "Connecting Peptide" a substance the pancreas releases into the bloodstream in equal amounts of insulin. A test of C-peptide levels shows how much insulin the body is making.
|
|
- D - Dawn Phenomenon: A sudden rise in blood glucose levels in the early morning hours. This condition sometimes occurs in people with insulin dependant diabetes. Diabetes insipidus: A condition characterised by frequent and heavy urination, excessive thirst, and an overall feeling of weakness. This condition maybe caused by a defect in the pituitary gland or in the kidney. In diabetes insipidus, blood glucose levels are normal.
Diabetes Mellitus: A condition characteriesed by hyperglycaemia resulting from the body's inabiliy to use blood glucose for energy. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas no longer makes insulin and therefore blood glucose cannot enter the cells to be used for energy. In type 2 diabetes, either the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body is unable to use insulin correctly.
Diabetic diarrhoea: Loose stools, faecal incontinence, or both that result from an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine and diabetic neuropathy in the intestines. This nerve damage can also result in constipation.
Diabetic ketoacidosis: An emergency condition in whcih extremely high blood glucose levels, along with a severe lack of insulin, result in the breakdown of body fat for energy and an accumulation of ketones in the blood and urine. Signs of DKA are nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, fruity breath odour, and rapid breathing. Untreated DKA can lead to coma and death.
Diabetic retinopathy: Diabetes eye disease, damage to the small blood vessels in the retina. May result in loss of vision.
Diabetologist: A doctor who specialised in treating people who have diabetes.
Dietitian: A health care professional who advises people about meal planning, wirght control, and diabetes management.
|
|
- E - Endocrine Gland: A group of specialised cells that release hormones into the blood. For example, the islets in the pancreas, which secrete insulin, are endocrine glands. Endocrinologist: A doctor who treats people who have endocrine gland problems such as diabetes.
Euglycaemia: A normal level of glucose in the blood.
Exchange lists: One of several approaches for diabetes meal planning. Foods are catagorised into three groups based on their nutrition content. Lists provide the serving sizes for carbohydrates, meats and meat alternatives, and fats. These lists allow for substitution for different groups to keep the nutritional contect fixed.
|
|
- F - Fasting blood glucose test: A check of a person's blood glucose level after the person has not eaten for 8 to 12 hours (usually overnight). This test is used to diagnose pre-diabetes and diabetes. It is also used to monitor people with diabetes.
|
|
- G - Gestational diabetes mellitus: A type of diabetes that develops only during pregnancy and usually disappear upon delivery, but increases the risk that the mother will develop diabetes later. GDM is managed with meal planning, activity and in some cases insulin. Glargine insulin: Very long acting insulin. On average, glargine insulin starts to lower blood glucose levels within one hour after injection and keeps working evenly for 24 hours after injection.
Glucagon: A hormone produced by the alpha cells in the pancreas. It raises blood glucose. An injectable form of glucagon, available by prescription may be used to treat severe hypoglycaemia.
Glucose: One of the simplest forms of sugar.
Glucose tablets: Chewable tablets made of pure glucose used for treating hypoglycaemia.
Glycaemic: A ranking of carbohydrate containing foods, based on the foods effect on blood glucose compared with a standard reference food.
Glycogen: The form of glucose found in the liver and muscles.
Glycosuria: The presence of glucose in the urine.
|
|
- H - Honeymoon phase: Temporary remission of hyperglycaemia that occurs in some people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, when some insulin secretion resumes for a short time, usually a few months before stopping again. Hormone: A chemical produced in one part of the body and released into the blood to trigger or regulate particular functions of the body. For example, insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas that tells other cells when to use glucose energy. Synthetic hormones made for use as medicines can be the same or different from those made in the body.
Hyperglycaemia: Excessive blood glucose. Fasting hyperglycaemia is blood glucose above a desirable level after a person has fasted for at least 8 hours. Postprandial hyperglycaemia is blood glucose above a desirable level 1 to 2 hours after eating.
Hyperinsulinemia: A condition in which the level of insulin in the blood is higher than normal. Caused by over production of insulin by the body. Related to insulin resistance.
Hypoglycaemia: A condition that occurs when ones blood glucose is lower than normal. Signs include hunger, nervousness, shakiness, perspiration, dizziness or light headedness, sleepness and confusion. If left untreated hypoglycaemia may lead to unconsciousness. Consuming a carbohydrate rich food such as a glucose tablet or juice treats hypoglycaemia. It may also be treated with an injection of glucagons if the person is unconcious or unable to swallow.
Hypoglycaemia unawareness: A state in which a person does not feel or recognise the symptoms of hypoglycaemia. People who have frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia may no longer experience the warning signs.
|
|
- I - IDDM: Insulin dependant diabetes mellitus. Impaired fasting glucose (IFG): A condition in which a blood glucose test, taken after a 8 to 12 hour fast, shows a level of glucose higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. IFG, also called pre-diabetes. Most people with pre-diabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Implantable insulin pump: A small pump placed inside the body to deliver insulin in response to remote-control commands from the user.
Injection site rotation: Changing the places on the body where insulin is injected.
Injection site: Places on the body where insulin is injected.
Insulin: A hormone that helps the body use glucose for energy. The beta cells of the pancreas make insulin. When the body cannot make enough insulin, insulin is taken by injection or through an insulin pump.
Insulin adjustment: A change in the amount of insulina person with diabetes takes based on factors such as meal planning, activity and blood glucose levels.
Insulin pen: A device for injecting insulin that looks like a fountain pen and hold replaceable cartridges of insulin. Also available in disposable form.
Insulin pump: An insulin delivering device about the size of a deck of cards that can be worn on a belt or kept in a pocket. An insulin pump connects to narrow, flexible plastic tubing that ends with a needle inserted just under the skin. Users set the pump to give a steady trickle or basel amount of insulin continuously throughout the day. Pumps release bolus doses of insulin (several units at a time) at meals and at times when blood glucose is too high, based on programming done by the user.
Insulin reaction: When the level of glucose in the blood is too low.
Insulin receptors: Areas on the outer part of a cell that allow the cell to bind with insulin in the blood. When the cell and insulin bind, the cell can take glucose from the blood and use it for energy.
Insulin resistant: The body's inability to respond to and use the insulin it produces. Insulin resistance may be linked to obesity, hypertension, and high levels of fat in the blood.
|
|
- J - Juvenile Diabetes Diabetes in childhood and adolescents
|
|
- L - Lactose Milk sugar Langerhans The scientist who discovered the islets of langerhans in 1969.
Latency phase: Psychological term for describing the years before puberty.
Lente insulin: Insulin made intermediate or long acting with a mixture of zinc.
Lipoatrophy: Cavity in the subcutaneous tissue that can be caused by an immunologic reaction towards insulin.
Lipohypertrophy: Tissue build up ("fat pad") that develops when yopu inject many times into the same area
Long acting insulin: Insulin with a very long acting action, up to 28 hours. Long acting insulin is of lente-type
|
|
- K - Ketoacidosis This is when the blood turns acidic from a high level of ketones when there is a dificiency of Insulin. This condition can develop into a diabetic coma Ketones This is when fat is broken down into fatty acids when the cells are starving due to a lack of glucose. The fatty acids are transformed into ketoneds in the liver. This can occur when there is a lack of insulin or when there is a lack of food.< BR> Ketosis Increased amounts of ketones in the blood
|
|
- M - Microalbuminuria: Small amounts of protein in the urine. The first sign of kidney damag (nephropathy) caused by many years of high blood glucose levels. Microalbuminuria is reversible if the blood glucose control is improved. Microaneurysm: Small protuberances on the retinal blood vessels. The first sign of eye damage caused by many years of high blood glucose levels. Microaneurysms are reversible if the blood glucose control is improved
Microangiopathy: Diabetes complication in the small blood vessels (eyes, kidnneys, nerves).
Macroangiopathy: Diabetes complication in the large blood vessels (arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular disease).
MODY: Maturity onset diabetes of the young. A special kind of type 2 diabetes that can be found in children and adolescents.
Monocomponent insulin: Purified porcine (pig) insulin. Gives less problems with antibody formation than older types of insulin.
Multiple injection treatment: Treatment with injection of short or direct acting insulin before meals and intermediate or long acting insulin to cover the night. When using direct acting insulin for meals you will need basal insulin in the day as well.
|
|
- N - Nasal insulin: Insulin in aerosol form that is given in the nose. Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum: A special type of skin lesion that can be seen in persons with diabetes.
Nephropathy: Kidney damage caused by many years of high blood glucose level.
Neuroglucopenic symptoms: Symptoms of brain dysfunction caused by a low blood glucose level.
Neuropathy: Kidney damage caused by many years of high blood glucose levels.
NIDDM: Non insulin dependant diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes.
Nicotinamide: A vitamin B compound that has been shown to lower the risk of acquiring diabetes in some studies.
NPH insulin: Insulin made intermediate acting by adding a protein (protamin).
|
|
|
|
|
- P - Pancreas: An organ in the abdominal cavity that produces digestive enzymes (released into the intestines) and different hormones (released directly into the blood). Pituitary gland: Small gland situated in the brain where many of the most important hormones in the body are produced.
Premeal injection: Injection with short or direct acting insulin prior to a meal.
Prevelence: The total number of existing cases of a disease at a given time.
Prospective study: A study that investigats what hapens from now and onwards when giving a certain treatment. This is the best method of conducting a study of the effect of a new treatment.
Protamin: A protein from salmon that is added to protract the action time of insulin. NPH insulin is based on this method.
Proteinuria: Protein in the urine due to permanent kidney damage (nephropathy) from having high blood glucose levels for manay years.
Pylorus: The lower sphincter (opening) of the stomach into the small intestine.
|
|
- R - Rebound phenomenon: After a hypoglyceamia the blood glucose level may rise to high levels. This is caused both by the secretion of counteracting hormones and by eating too much when feeling hypoglycaemic. Regression: Psychological term to describe when a person temporarily regresses to an earlier stage of psychological development. An independent teenager whos is hospitalised will often become more dependent and react as if he/ she was several years younger.
Remission phase:Also called honeymoon phase. The need of insulin will often be lowered during the moths after the onset of diabetes due to an increased of the residual insulin production in your pancreas.
Renal threshold: If the blood glucose level is above the level glucose will show up in the urine when you test it.
Retinopathy: Eye damage caused by manay years of high blood glucose levels.
Retrospective study: A study that investigates what happened when a certain treatment was given by looking backwards in time at treated individuals.
|
|
- S - Saccharin: Sweetener that does not provide any energy. Sensor: Device to measure blood glucose continuously.
Short acting insulin: Soluble insulin without additives.
Somogyi phenomenon: A special type of nighttime rebound phenomenon with high blood glucose level in the morning.
Sorbitol: Sweetener that gives energy.
Starch: Complex carbohydrates found for example in potatoes, corn, rice and wheat.
Starvation ketones: Ketones that are produces when the cells starve due to a low blood glucose level. Caused by not eating enough food containing carbohydrates.
Subcutaneous: The fat tissues in the skin.
Sucrose: Cane or beet sugfar, brown sugar, table sugar, powdered sugar, invert sugar, saccharose.
|
|
- T - Transplantation: When a new organ is implanted in the body by surgery. Type 1 diabetes: Insulin dependent diabetes (IDDM). Diabetes that needs to be treated with insulin from the onset. is caused by the pancreas not producing insulin.
Type 2 diabetes: Non insulin dependant diabetes (NIDDM). Diabetees that initially can be treated with diet and oral drugs. Is caused by an increased resistance to the insulin produced by the pancreas.
|
|
- U - U: Short for international units of insulin. Uremia: Urine poisoning when the body cannot get rid of its waste products. End stage of nephropathy.
|
|
- V - Venous blood test: Test taken by puncturing a blood vessel (vein).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Z - Source: Insulin dependant diabetes in childrem, adolescents and adults, Ragnar Hanas, 1998
|
|
