Diabetes Glossary of Terms
Acidosis: Occurs when too much acid in the body, usually from the production of ketones like acetone, when cells are starved. The most common type of acidosis is called "ketoacidosis" for people with Diabetes.
Adult-onset diabetes: This once common phrase is considered the same as type 2 diabetes; with the growing numbers of childhood obesity, it has lead to the increase of type 2 diabetes diagnosis in children, therefore changing the reference “Adult-onset diabetes” to change to “type 2”. Commonly, type 2 is known as non insulin dependent diabetes; however patients may at some point require insulin.
Anti-diabetic agent: An agent is a substance that helps a person with diabetes control levels of sugar in their blood to allow their body to function properly.
Artificial pancreas: Used to help regulate the amount of insulin released, an artificial pancreas is a glucose sensor attached to an insulin delivery. The system, determines the body glucose level, takes the information and releases the appropriate amounts of insulin for the particular sugar it measured.
Basal rate: Basal rate is the amount of insulin required to manage normal daily blood glucose fluctuations. Insulin is constantly produced to manage the glucose fluctuations that occur during one’s day. An insulin pump emulates this activity for a person with diabetes, dispensing a constant low level amount of insulin.
Blood glucose monitoring or testing: A procedure of testing how much sugar is in the blood. There are home blood glucose monitors which require pricking the finger with a lancing device, placing a droplet of blood on a test strip and inserting the strip into the testing meter. The blood glucose meter will display ones blood glucose level. Alternatively, blood sugar testing may be done in a laboratory. It is common for people with diabetes to blood glucose monitor numerous times during the day. However some may perform a glucose check first thing in the morning before eating and a sugar check two hours after meals.
Brittle diabetes: Brittle diabetes is when a person's blood sugar level shifts often very quickly from high to low and from low to high.
Calorie: A calorie is the energy that comes from food.
Carbohydrate: Carbohydrates are a source of energy and are mainly sugars and starches that the body breaks down into glucose.
Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE): A health care professional that is certified by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) to teach people with diabetes how to manage their condition.
Dawn phenomenon: Is a rise in blood sugar levels in the early morning hours.
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA): A severe, life-threatening condition that results from hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), dehydration, and acid build up that needs emergency treatment. DKA happens when there is not enough insulin and cells become starved for sugars. An alternative source of energy called ketones becomes activated. The system creates a build up of acids. Ketoacidosis can lead to coma and even death.
Endocrinologist: A doctor who treats people with hormone problems.
Fasting plasma glucose test (FPG): The FPG is the preferred method of screening for diabetes and measures a person's blood sugar level after fasting. A normal fasting blood glucose level is less than 100 milligrams per deciliter or mg/dL. Fasting plasma glucose greater than 100 mg/dL and less than 126 mg/dL implies that the person has an impaired fasting glucose level, but may not have diabetes. Diabetes is diagnosed when the fasting blood glucose is greater than 126 mg/dL and when blood tests confirm abnormal results. Tests can be repeated by measuring glucose 2 hours after a meal or on a subsequent day. The results should show elevated blood glucose of more than 200 mg/dL.
Gestational diabetes: In pregnancy, test that show a high blood sugar level are referred to gestational diabetes. During each stage of pregnancy there is an increased need for nutrients for the developing baby. Expecting mothers experience hormone changes during pregnancy, which affect the action of insulin, resulting in high blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels typically return to normal after childbirth. Women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Gestational diabetes may increase complications during labor and delivery and increase the rates of fetal complications related to the increased size of the baby.
Glucose: Glucose is the body's main source of energy; also known as "dextrose" and is a simple sugar found in the blood.
Glucose tolerance test: A glucose tolerance test is performed in a lab or doctor's office to determine if a person has diabetes. The test occurs in the morning with a fasting patient. Patients must go through a period of at least 8 hours without any food prior to taking the test. A sample of blood is first taken, then the person drinks a sugar liquid in it. A second blood test is performed two hours later. If the results of the fasting or first blood test are abnormal yet still not high enough to be considered in the diabetes range, then the person is said to have glucose intolerance. A fasting blood sugar greater than 126 mg/dl is considered diabetes. If the 2 hour blood test is abnormal but still not high enough to be considered in the diabetic range, this too, is considered an abnormal glucose tolerance. If the two hour test result shows a blood sugar greater than 200 mg/dl, the person is consider to have diabetes.
Glycated hemoglobin test (HbA1c): This is an important blood test to determine how a person is properly managing their diabetes. Hemoglobin is a substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen to tissues. It can also attach to sugar in the blood forming a substance called glycated hemoglobin or a Hemoglobin A1C. The test provides an average blood sugar measurement over a six to twelve week period and is used in conjunction with home glucose monitoring to make treatment adjustments. The ideal range for people with diabetes is generally less than 7%.
Human insulin: Bio-engineered insulin very similar to insulin made by the body. The DNA code for making human insulin is put into bacteria or yeast cells and the insulin made is purified and sold as human insulin.
Hyperglycemia: Hyperglycemia is a term for high blood sugar. This condition is fairly common in people with diabetes. It occurs when the body does not have enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it does have.
Hypoglycemia: Hypoglycemia is a term for low blood sugar. Most cases occur when there is too much insulin and not enough glucose in your body.
Injection site rotation: A process that describes the changing of areas on the body where a person injects insulin. Injections will be easier, safer, and more comfortable when using this process. Using a constant injection can cause hardened areas, lumps, or indentations to develop under the skin, which keep the insulin from being used properly. Lumps or indentations are called "lipodystrophies."
Injection sites: The area on the body where people can inject insulin most easily.
Insulin: A hormone produced by the pancreas that helps the body use sugar for energy. The beta cells of the pancreas make insulin.
Insulin dependent diabetes: Former term used for type 1 diabetes.
Insulin mixture: A mixture of insulin that contains short as well as intermediate- or long-acting insulin.
Insulin pump: A small, computerized device that is worn close to the body and can be placed on a belt or put in a pocket. Insulin pumps require a small flexible tube with a fine needle. The needle is inserted under the skin and distributes a carefully measured, steady flow of insulin.
Insulin reaction: Another term for hypoglycemia in a person with diabetes. This occurs when a person with diabetes has injected too much insulin, eaten too little food, or has exercised without eating extra food.
Insulin receptors: Areas on the outer part of a cell that allow insulin in the blood to join or bind with the cell. When the cell and insulin bind together, the cell can take glucose from the blood and use it for energy.
Insulin resistance: Occurs when a person's body will not allow insulin to work properly in the body, even if the person takes very high daily doses of insulin.
Insulin shock: A severe condition that occurs when the level of blood sugar drops quickly.
Juvenile-onset diabetes: Former term used for type 1 diabetes.
Ketone bodies: Ketones are one of the products of fat burning in the body. When there is not enough insulin to use blood sugars, your body breaks down its own fat and protein for energy instead of glucose. When fat is used, ketone bodies, an acid, appear in your urine and blood. A large amount of ketones in your system can lead to a serious condition where acids build up in the body called ketoacidosis. Ketones can be detected and monitored in your urine.
Kidney disease (nephropathy): In a person with diabetes, nephropathy is any one of several conditions caused by changes in the very small blood vessels in the kidneys. These changes cause scarring of the kidneys which can eventually lead to kidney failure. People who have had diabetes for a long time may develop nephropathy. An early sign of nephropathy is when proteins can be detected in the urine.
Lancet: A fine, sharp pointed needle for pricking the skin. Used in blood sugar monitoring.
Late-onset diabetes: Former term used for type 2 diabetes.
Low blood sugar, low blood glucose: See Hypoglycemia
Metabolism: The physical and chemical processes in the body that occur when food is broken down and energy is created and wastes are produced.
Mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter): Measurement that indicates the amount of a particular substance such as glucose in a specific amount of blood.
Mixed dose: A doctor may prescribe a dose of insulin in which two types of insulin are combined and injected at once. A mixed dose typically combines fast-acting insulin, (regular insulin) with a longer-acting insulin. This may be prescribed to provide better control with blood sugars.
Nephropathy: Disease of the kidneys caused by damage to the small blood vessels or to the units in the kidneys that clean the blood. People who have had diabetes for a long time may develop nephropathy.
Neuropathy: Nerve damage. People who have had diabetes that is not well controlled may develop nerve damage.
Non-insulin dependent diabetes: Former term for type 2 diabetes.
Pancreas: An organ behind the lower part of the stomach that is about the size of a hand. It makes insulin so the body can use sugar for energy.
Peak action: The reference of time when the effect of something is as strong as it can be. In diabetes, this can be when insulin is having the most effect on blood sugar.
Periodontal disease: Damage to the gums and tissues around the teeth. People who have diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people who do not have diabetes.
Peripheral neuropathy: A type of nerve damage most commonly affecting the feet and legs.
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD): An abnormal condition that affects the blood vessels outside the heart. Often occurs as a result of decreased blood flow and narrowing of the arteries from atherosclerosis, to the hands and feet. People who have had diabetes for a long time may develop PVD.
Polyuria: Increased need to urinate often; a common sign of diabetes.
Regular insulin: A type of insulin that is rapid-acting.
Retinopathy: A disease of the small blood vessels in the retina of the eye.
Somogyi effect: May also be referred to "rebound effect," and occurs when there is an upward swing in blood sugar from an extremely low level of glucose in the blood to a very high level. Typically this occurs during the night and early A.M. morning hours. People who experience high levels of blood sugar in the morning may need to test their blood sugar levels in the middle of the night. If blood sugar levels are repeatedly low, addition of an evening snack or a lowering of the insulin doses may be recommended.
Type 1 diabetes: Type 1 requires the use of insulin injections to control blood sugar. Type 1 is a type of diabetes in which the insulin-producing cells (called beta cells) of the pancreas are damaged. People with type 1 diabetes produce little or no insulin; glucose cannot get into the body's cells for use as energy and causes blood sugar to rise.
Type 2 diabetes: A type of diabetes in which the insulin produced is either not enough or the person's body does not respond normally to the amount present. When there is not enough insulin or the insulin is not used as it should be, glucose cannot get into the body's cells for use as energy. This causes blood sugar to rise.
Ultralente insulin: A type of insulin that is long acting, usually the action of this type of insulin works for 25-36 hours after injection. This type of insulin has an onset of action four to five hours after injecting and works most powerfully at eight to 14 hours after injection.
Unit of insulin: Also known as U-100, it is the basic measure of insulin. U-100 is the most common concentration of insulin and means there are 100 units of insulin per milliliter (ml) of liquid.
Urine testing: A procedure used to check if the urine contains ketones.