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Diabetes Dictionary
- A1C
- A blood test that reflects average blood glucose over the past 3 months.
- Adult-Onset Diabetes
- Outdated term for type 2 diabetes.
- Alpha Cells
- A type of cell in the pancreas that makes and releases a hormone called glucagon.
- Background Insulin
- The insulin made by your body to keep blood sugar stable between meals and overnight. Also called "basal" insulin.
- Basal Insulin
- The insulin made by your body to keep blood sugar stable between meals and overnight. Also called "background" insulin.
- Beta Cells
- Cells in the pancreas that make insulin.
- Blood Glucose
- The main sugar found in the blood and the body's main source of energy. Also called blood sugar.
- Blood Glucose Level
- The amount of glucose (sugar) in a given amount of blood. It is reported as the number of milligrams of glucose in a deciliter of blood, or mg/dL.
- Blood Glucose Meter
- A hand-held machine that tests blood glucose levels. A drop of blood, obtained by pricking a finger, is placed on a small strip that is inserted in the meter which measures and displays the blood glucose level.
- Blood Glucose Monitoring
- Checking blood glucose (blood sugar) levels on a regular basis in order to manage diabetes. A blood glucose meter is needed for frequent blood glucose monitoring.
- Blood Sugar
- Sugar in the form of glucose in the blood. Also called blood glucose.
- Blood Sugar Level
- The amount of sugar (glucose) in a given amount of blood. It is reported as the number of milligrams of glucose in a deciliter of blood, or mg/dL.
- Bolus
- An extra dose of rapid-acting insulin given around meals or to lower high blood sugar.
- Carbohydrates
- One of the three main nutrients in food. Foods that provide carbohydrate include starches, breads, sweets, vegetables, fruits, milk products, and sugars.
- Counting Carbohydrates
- A method for diabetic meal planning that requires counting all carbohydrates consumed in food. Since carbohydrates cause an increase in blood sugar, keeping track of the amounts that are eaten will allow you to understand how carbohydrates affect your blood sugar.
- Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE)
- A healthcare professional with expertise in diabetes education who has met eligibility requirements and successfully completed a certification exam.
- Diabetic Food Exchange List
- A system designed for diabetic meal planning that involves using lists of foods grouped by type (fats, fruits, meats, milk, starch, etc.). Each food is broken down into detailed nutritional information based on serving size, making it easy to "exchange" one food in a group for another, based on the nutritional information. These exchange lists simplify making good food choices and allow for variety in the diet while ensuring the proper balance of calories and nutrients necessary for a healthy diet.
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
- An emergency condition in which 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. DKA can cause nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, fruity breath odor, and rapid breathing. Untreated DKA can lead to coma and death.
- Dose
- The amount of a medicine to be taken within a given period.
- Fat
- One of the three main nutrients in food. Foods that provide fat include butter, margarine, lard, shortening, salad dressing, oil, nuts, meat, poultry, fish, and some dairy products. Excess calories are stored as body fat, providing the body with a reserve supply of energy.
- Fixed Dose
- A specific, unchanging amount of a medicine.
- Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
- A condition in pregnant women characterized by high blood sugar, caused by the body's inability to use the insulin it makes or to make the insulin it needs during pregnancy. When GDM develops, it is typically between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. About 7% of all pregnant women suffer from GDM.
- Glucagon
- Glucagon raises blood glucose by releasing glucose from the liver. Glucagon is a hormone produced by the alpha cells in the pancreas.
- Glucose
- The sugar that the body makes from the three elements of food — proteins, fats, and carbohydrates — but mostly from carbohydrates. Glucose is the major source of energy for living cells. Because glucose is carried to each cell through the bloodstream, it is often called "blood glucose" or "blood sugar."
- Glycogen
- The form of glucose that is stored in the liver and muscles.
- 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 for energy.
- Hyperglycemia
- Also called high blood glucose. Hyperglycemia can happen when the body does not have enough insulin or when the body can't use insulin properly. Symptoms may include excessive thirst, frequent urination, dry skin, blurred vision, and fatigue.
- Hypoglycemia
- Also called low blood sugar. Symptoms may include sweating, trembling, hunger, dizziness, moodiness, confusion, and blurred vision.
- Incretin Mimetic
- A class of type 2 diabetes drugs that "mimic" the effects of naturally occurring hormones from the intestines and can help the body make more of its own insulin. Incretin mimetics help to lower blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes.
- Insulin
- Insulin is necessary for glucose (blood sugar) to be able to enter certain cells of the body and be used for energy. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas by beta cells.
- Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)
- Outdated term for type 1 diabetes.
- Insulin Resistance
- 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.
- Intermediate-acting Insulin
- Insulin that reaches the bloodstream about 2 to 4 hours after injection, peaks 4 to 12 hours later, and is effective for about 12 to 18 hours.
- Ketones
- Chemical substances that are made by the body when fat is used as a fuel source instead of glucose. When ketones build up to a great extent in the body, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can develop. If untreated, DKA could result in serious illness, coma, or death.
- Lancet
- A spring-loaded device used to prick the skin with a small needle to obtain a drop of blood for blood glucose monitoring.
- Liver
- A large organ in the body that has many functions, including the production and storage of glucose.
- Long-acting Insulin
- Insulin that reaches the bloodstream 6 to 10 hours after injection and is usually effective for up to 24 hours.
- Mixture Insulin
- A combination of a rapid-acting insulin with a longer-acting insulin.
- Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)
- Outdated term for type 2 diabetes.
- Pancreas
- An organ located behind the lower part of the stomach that produces the hormones insulin and glucagon, and releases them into the bloodstream to help control blood glucose levels. The pancreas also produces digestive enzymes.
- Protein
- One of the three main nutrients in food. Foods that provide protein include meat, poultry, fish, cheese, milk, dairy products, eggs, and dried beans. Proteins are also used in the body to build cells, to create insulin and other hormones, and other functions.
- Rapid-acting Insulin
- Insulin that starts to work quickly (usually within 15 minutes) after injection, with its peak activity (strongest effect) lasting only a few hours.
- Sharps Container
- A container for disposal of used needles, syringes, and lancets; often made of hard plastic so that needles cannot poke through.
- Type 1 Diabetes
- A disease characterized by high blood glucose levels caused by a lack of insulin production. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body's immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. Type 1 diabetes develops most often in young people but can appear in adults and affects up to 10% of people living with diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily to sustain life.
- Type 2 Diabetes
- A disease characterized by high blood glucose levels caused by either a lack of insulin or the body's inability to use insulin efficiently. Type 2 diabetes develops most often in middle-aged and older adults who are obese or overweight, but can appear in young people. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 90% or more of people living with diabetes.
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