List of terms associated with diabetes |
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This page lists and explains terms connected with diabetes.
Contents: Top - 0–9
A B C
D E F
G H I
J K L
M N O
P Q R
S T U
V W X
Y Z
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A
 | ACE
inhibitor
| Acetohexamide
- A pill taken to lower the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Only some people with Type II diabetes take these pills. See also:
Oral hypoglycemic agents. One of the sulfonylurea
drugs. (Dymelor™ Dimelor™)
| Acetone
- A byproduct of excessive fat metabolism
| Acidosis
- An acidic condition in the blood. If prolonged, or severe, it can
cause coma and death. For a person with diabetes, this can be caused
by insufficient glucose absorption (eg, from inadequate insulin) and
metabolic ketosis. It can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. A medical
emergency. See also: Diabetic ketoacidosis.
| Acute
- Happens for a limited period of time; abrupt onset; sharp, severe.
| Adrenal
gland
| Adult-onset diabetes - Former term for Type
2 diabetes. See also: Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
| Adverse
effect - A harmful result
| Albuminuria
| Aldose
reductase inhibitor
| Alpha
cell - a type of cell in the pancreas (in areas called the
islets of Langerhans). Alpha cells make and release a hormone called
glucagon, which raises the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
The name is different in the UK.
| Amino
acid
| Amyotrophy
- A type of diabetic neuropathy that causes muscle weakness and
wasting.
| Angiopathy
| Anomalies
- Birth defects; abnormalities.
| Antibodies
| Antidiabetic
agent - A kind of medication that helps a person with diabetes
control the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood so that the body
works as it should. See also: Insulin; oral hypoglycemic agents.
| Antigen
| Antiseptic
| Arteriosclerosis
is the same as atherosclerosis
| Artery
| Artificial
pancreas - A large machine used in hospitals that constantly
measures glucose (sugar) in the blood and, in response, releases the
right amount of insulin. Scientists are also working to develop a
small unit that could be implanted in the body, functioning like a
real pancreas.
| Aspartame
- An artificial sweetner that can replace sugar
| Asymptomatic
- No symptoms; no clear sign of disease present. Most Type IIs are
without clinically obvious symptoms for some time (up to decades)
before they are diagnosed as diabetic.
| Atherosclerosis
| Autoimmune
disease
| Autonomic
neuropathy | |
[edit]
B
| Background
retinopathy also known as non-proliferative
retinopathy
| Basal
rate - Refers to a continuous supply of something. In the case
of diabetes, it refers to low levels of insulin needed for such
purposes as controlling cellular amino acid uptake, potassium
uptake, etc.
| Beta
cell
| Beta
cell transplantation - See: Islet cell transplantation.
| Biosynthetic
human insulin - A man-made insulin that is chemically identical
to like human insulin. See also: Human insulin.
| Biphasic
insulin - A type of insulin that is a mixture of intermediate-
and fast-acting insulin. See 70/30.
| Blood
glucose
| Blood
glucose meter
| Blood
glucose monitoring
| Blood
pressure
| Blood-sampling
device
| Blood
sugar - Another name for blood glucose
| Blood
urea nitrogen (BUN) A measurement of a metabolic waste product
in the blood. Urea is one end product of protein metabolism.
Increased levels of BUN in the blood may indicate early kidney
damage.
| Blood
vessels
| Bolus
- An extra amount of insulin given in one dose to cover an expected
rise in blood glucose (sugar) such as the rise that occurs after
eating.
| Borderline
diabetes - A term no longer used. See: Impaired glucose
tolerance.
| Brittle
diabetes - A term used when a person's blood glucose (sugar)
level often swings quickly from high to low and from low to high.
Also called labile and unstable diabetes.
| Bronze diabetes see Hemochromatosis.
| Bunion
- A bump or bulge on the first joint of the big toe caused by the
swelling of a sac of fluid under the skin. | |
[edit]
C
| Certified
diabetes educator (C.D.E.) - A health care professional who is
qualified by the American Association of Diabetes Educators to teach
people with diabetes how to manage their condition. The health care
team for diabetes should ideally include a diabetes educator,
preferably a C.D.E.
| C-peptide
- A substance that the pancreas releases into the bloodstream in
equal amounts to insulin. A test of C-peptide levels will show how
much insulin the body is making. Insulin is prepared as two insulin
molecules linked by a c-peptide. When insulin is secreted, C-peptide
is released as well.
| Calcium
channel blocker
| Callus
- A small area of skin, usually on the foot, that has become thick
and hard from rubbing or pressure. Calluses may lead to other
problems such as serious infection. Shoes that fit well can keep
calluses from forming. See also: Foot care.
| Calorie
| Capillary
| Capsaicin
| Carbohydrate
| Cardiologist
| Cardiovascular
| Carpal
tunnel syndrome
| Cataract
| Cerebrovascular
disease - Damage to the blood vessels in the brain, resulting in
a stroke. People with diabetes are at higher risk of cerebrovascular
disease.
| Charcot
foot - A foot complication associated with diabetic neuropathy
that results in destruction of joints and soft tissue. Also called
"Charcot's joint" and "neuropathic arthropathy."
| Chemical
Diabetes - is a term that is no longer used. See: Impaired
glucose tolerance.
| Chlorpropamide
- A pill taken to lower the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Only some people with noninsulin-dependent diabetes take these
pills. See also: Oral hypoglycemic agents One of the sulfonylureas.
(Diabinese™)
| Cholesterol
| Chronic
- Present over a long period of time. Diabetes is an example of
chronic disease.
| Circulation
| Clinical
trial - A study carried out in people to answer a question such
as whether a new treatment (or drug or exercise technique) is
effective or safe. In the US, studies are broken into Phase I, Phase
II, and Phase III trials. A properly designed study is carefully
controlled and designed to produce reliable information. A poorly
designed study (and there are many of these) does not produce
reliable information.
| Coma
| Comatose
- In a coma; not conscious.
| Complications
of diabetes - Harmful effects that may happen when a person has
diabetes. Some acute effects, such as hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia,
can happen any time. Others develop when a person has had diabetes
for a long time (years, or even decades). These include damage to
the retina of the eye (retinopathy), the blood vessels (angiopathy),
the nervous system (neuropathy), and the kidneys (nephropathy).
Studies very clearly show that keeping blood glucose levels as close
to the normal, nondiabetic range as possible does help prevent,
slow, or delay the long term complications of diabetes (eye, kidney,
blood vessel, and nerve damage).
| Congenital
defect - Problems or conditions that are present at birth.
| Congestive
heart failure - Heart failure caused by loss of pumping power by
the heart, resulting in fluids collecting in the body.
| Contraindication
- A condition that makes a treatment not helpful or even harmful.
| Controlled
disease - Taking care of oneself so that a disease has less of
an effect on the body. People with diabetes can "control"
the disease by staying on their diets, by exercising, by taking
medicine if it is needed, and by monitoring their blood glucose.
This care will help keep the glucose (sugar) level in the blood from
becoming either too high or too low.
| Conventional
therapy - A system of diabetes management practiced by most
people with diabetes; the system consists of one or two insulin
injections each day, daily self-monitoring of blood glucose, and a
standard program of nutrition and exercise. The main objective in
this form of treatment is to avoid very high and very low blood
glucose (sugar). Contrast close control therapy. Also called:
"Standard Therapy." See complications of diabetes.
| Coronary
disease
| Coxsackie
B4 virus - A virus which can trigger an auto-immune reaction
which results in an attack on the beta cells. If destroyed, the
person becomes a Type I diabetic, no longer producing insulin
internally.
| Creatinine
- a measure of renal
function
| Continuous
subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) - See: Insulin pump
| Cyclamate
- A man-made chemical that people used instead of sugar. | |
[edit]
D
| Dawn
phenomenon - A sudden rise in blood glucose levels in the early
morning hours. This condition sometimes occurs in people with
insulin-dependent diabetes and (rarely) in people with noninsulin-dependent
diabetes. Unlike the Somogyi effect, it is not a result of an
insulin reaction. People who have high levels of blood glucose in
the mornings before eating may need to monitor their blood glucose
during the night. If blood glucose levels are rising, adjustments in
evening snacks or insulin dosages may be recommended. See also:
Somogyi effect.
| Debridement
- The removal of infected, hurt, or dead tissue.
| Dehydration
| Delta
cell - A type of cell in the pancreas in areas called the islets
of Langerhans. Delta cells make somatostatin, a hormone that is
believed to control how the beta cells make and release insulin and
how the alpha cells make and release glucagon.
| Desensitization
- A method to reduce or stop an allergic reaction to something.
| Dextrose see glucose
| Diabetes
control and complications trial (DCCT) - A 10-year study
(1983-1993) funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases to assess the effects of intensive
therapy on the long-term complications of diabetes. The study very
clearly showed that intensive management (close control) of
insulin-dependent diabetes prevents or slows the development of the
long-term complicatons of diabetes (eye, kidney, and nerve damage
caused by diabetes).
| Diabetes
insipidus
| Diabetes
mellitus - A disease that occurs when the body is not able to
use dietary carbohyrdates (eg, sugar, starch, ...) as it should.
| Diabetic
amyotrophy - A disease of the nerves leading to the muscles.
This condition affects only one side of the body and occurs most
often in older men with mild diabetes. See also: Neuropathy.
| Diabetic
angiopathy - See: Angiopathy.
| Diabetic
coma
| Diabetic
ketoacidosis (DKA) see acidosis
| Diabetic
myelopathy - Spinal cord damage found in some people with
diabetes.
| Diabetic
nephropathy - See: Nephropathy
| Diabetic
neuropathy - See: Neuropathy
| Diabetic
osteopathy - Loss of foot bone as viewed by x-ray; usually
temporary. Also called "disappearing bone disease."
| Diabetic
retinopathy
| Diabetogenic
- Causing diabetes; some drugs cause blood glucose (sugar) to rise
temporatily. Other cause it to rise permanently; if so they have
caused diabetes.
| Diabetologist
- A doctor who sees and treats people with diabetes mellitus.
| Diagnosis
- The term used when a doctor finds that a person has a certain
medical problem or disease.
| Dialysis
| Diastolic
blood pressure - See: Blood pressure.
| Diet
plan - See: Meal plan.
| Dietitian
- An expert in nutrition who helps people with special health needs
plan the kinds and amounts of foods to eat. A registered dietitian
(R.D.) has special training and experience. The health care team for
diabetes should ideally include a dietitian, preferably an R.D.
| Dilated
pupil examination - A necessary part of an examination for
diabetic eye disease. Special drops are used to enlarge the pupils,
enabling the doctor to view the back of the eye for damage.
| Distal
sensory neuropathy - See: Peripheral neuropathy.
| Diuretic
| Deoxyribonucleic
acid
| Dupuytren's
contracture - A condition that causes the fingers to curve
inward and may also affect the palm. The condition is more common in
people with diabetes and may precede diabetes. | |
[edit]
E
| Edema
-- collection of fluid in a part of the body. Diabetics often have
edemic feet due to decreased circulation to them.
| Electromyography
EMG - Test used to diagnose neuropathy and check for nerve damage.
| Emergency
medical identification - Cards, bracelets, or necklaces with a
written message used by people with diabetes or other medical
problems to alert others in case of a medical emergency such as
coma.
| Endocrine
glands
| Endocrinologist
| Endogenous
- Grown or made inside the body. Insulin made by a person's own
pancreas is endogenous insulin. Insulin that is supplied from
outside the body (ie, injected or otherwise supplied) is exogenous.
| End-stage
renal disease (ESRD) - The final phase of many kidney diseases;
treated by dialysis or kidney transplantation. See also: Dialysis;
nephropathy.
| Enzymes
| Epidemiology
| Epinephrine
| Etiology
| Euglycemia
- A normal level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
| Exchange
lists - A grouping of foods by type to help people on special
diets stay on the diet. Each group lists food in serving sizes. A
person can exchange, trade, or substitute a food serving in one
group for another food serving in the same group. The lists put
foods in six groups: (1) starch/bread, (2) meat, (3) vegetables, (4)
fruit, (5) milk, and (6) fats. Within a food group, each serving has
about the same amount of carbohydrate, protein, fat, and calories.
| Exogenous
- Grown or made outside the body; for instance, insulin made from
pork or beef pancreas is exogenous insulin for people. Contrast
endogenous. | |
[edit]
F
| Fasting
blood glucose test - A method for finding out how much glucose
(sugar) is in the blood, unaffected by recent food. The test can
show if a person has diabetes (a single reading of 126 mg/dl is
diagnostic except in newborns or pregnant women or in some unusual
other conditions). A blood sample is often taken in a lab or
doctor's office. The test is usually done in the morning before the
person has eaten. The normal, nondiabetic range for blood glucose is
approx between 70 to 110 mg/dl, depending on the person and whether
the blood is from a vein or a capillary, and depending on how the
measurement is made (on whole blood or just the plasma).
| fats
| Fatty
acids
| Fiber
| Fluorescein
angiography - A method of taking a picture of the flow of blood
in the vessels of the eye by tracing the progress of an injected
dye.
| Food
exchange - See: Exchange lists.
| Foot
care - Taking special steps to avoid foot problems such as
sores, cuts, bunions, and calluses. Good care includes daily
examination of the feet, toes, and toenails and choosing shoes and
socks or stockings that fit well. People with diabetes have to take
special care of their feet because nerve damage and reduced blood
flow sometimes mean they will have less feeling in their feet than
normal. They may not notice cuts and other problems as soon as they
should. They will also heal less well than others.
| Fractional
urine - Urine that a person collects for a certain period of
time during 24 hours; usually from breakfast to lunch, from lunch to
supper, from supper to bedtime, and from bedtime to rising. Also
called "block urine."
| Fructose
| Fundus
of the eye - The central portion of the retina on back or
deepest part of the eye.
| Funduscopy
- A test to look at the back area of the eye to see if there is any
damage to the vessels that bring blood to the retina. The doctor
uses a device called an ophthalmoscope to check the eye. | |
[edit]
G
| Galactose
| Gangrene
- Infection of dead body tissue. It is most often caused by a loss
of blood flow, especially in the legs and feet.
| Gastroparesis
- A form of nerve damage that affects the stomach and intestines.
Food is not digested properly and does not move through in a normal
way, resulting in vomiting,
nausea,
or bloating.
It often interferes with diabetes management. See also: Autonomic
neuropathy.
| Gene
| Genetic
- See also: heredity.
| Gestation
| Gestational
diabetes mellitus (GDM) - A type of diabetes mellitus that can
occur when a woman is pregnant. During the pregnancy (usually later
in it), the woman may have glucose (sugar) in her blood at a higher
than normal level. However, when the pregnancy ends, the blood
glucose levels return to normal in about 95 percent of all cases. It
must be treated carefully by a physician for it is dangerous to both
mother and child. If treated properly, there are usually no lasting
effects on either.
| Gingivitis
| Gland
| Glaucoma
| gliclazide
- A pill taken to lower the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Only some people with noninsulin-dependent diabetes take these
pills. See also: Oral hypoglycemic agents. One of the sulfonylureas.
(Diamicron™)
| glimepiride
- A pill taken to lower the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Only some people with noninsulin-dependent diabetes take these
pills. See also: Oral hypoglycemic agents. One of the sulfonylureas.
(Amaryl™)
| glipizide
- A pill taken to lower the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Only some people with noninsulin-dependent diabetes take these
pills. See also: Oral hypoglycemic agents. One of the sulfonylureas.
(Glucotrol™)
| Glomerular
filtration rate - A measure of the kidneys' ability to filter
and remove waste products.
| Glomeruli
- Network of tiny blood vessels in the kidneys where the blood is
filtered and waste products are removed.
| Glucagon
- A hormone that raises the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood by
forcing the liver to release its intracellular stores of glucose. *Glucose
| Glucose
tolerance test - A test to see if a person has diabetes. The
test is usually given in a lab or doctor's office in the morning
before the person has eaten. A first sample of blood is taken from
the person. Then the person drinks a liquid that has a measured
amount of glucose in it. After one hour, a second blood sample is
drawn, and, after another hour, a third sample is taken. The object
is to see how well the body deals with the glucose in the blood over
time without interference from other foods. Depending on the local
lab, the number and spacing of samples may vary.
|
Glycemic
index - The effect of different foods on blood glucose (sugar)
levels over a period of time. Researchers have discovered that some
kinds of foods may raise blood glucose levels more quickly than
other foods containing the same amount of carbohydrates. cooked
carrots are get glucose in the blood faster than pure glucose! In
practice, foods are not eaten alone and the presence of other foods
changes the measured results for the pure food. In addition, some
foods don't have much carbohydrate even if they get it into the
blood quickly. A better guide is glycemic density which combines the
glycemic index with the amount of carbohydrate in the food.
| Glycogen
- A substance made from multiple glucose molecules. Sometimes called
'animal starch'. It is stored in liver and muscle cells and can be
converted to glucose if needed.
| Glycogenesis
(or glucogenesis) The process by which glycogen is formed from
glucose. Controlled by insulin. See also: Glycogen.
| Glycosuria
- Having glucose (sugar) in the urine.
| Glycosylated
hemoglobin test - A blood test that measures the level of a
particular variety of hemoglobin (Hb1Ac) which is itself a measure
of a person's average blood glucose level for the 3-month period
before the test. See: Hemoglobin A1C. | |
[edit]
H
| HCF
diet - A high-carbohydrate, high-fiber diet.
| Hemocromatosis
- See: Bronze diabetes.
| Hemodialysis
- A mechanical method of cleaning the blood for people who have
kidney disease. See also: Dialysis.
| Hemoglobin
A1C (HbA1c) - Hemoglobin is the substance in red blood cells
that carries oxygen to the cells. Some subtypes react with blood
glucose; the HbA1c type reacts permanently with glucose. Since blood
cells live about 90 days or so, the amount of HbA1c present at any
time is a record of how much glucose there has been in that period.
| Heredity
| High
blood pressure
| Hives
| HLA
antigens - Proteins on the outer part of body cells that are
(effectively) unique to that person. HLA types are inherited, and
some of them are connected with Type I diabetes.
| Home
blood glucose monitoring - A way a person can test how much
glucose (sugar) is in the blood. Also called self-monitoring of
blood glucose. See also: Blood glucose monitoring.
| Homeostasis
| Hormone
| Human
insulin - Man-made insulins that are similar to insulin produced
by your own body. Human insulin has been available since October
1982.
| Hyperglycemia
| Hyperinsulinism
- Too high a level of insulin in the blood. This term most often
refers to a condition in which the body produces too much insulin.
Researchers believe that this condition may play a role in the
development of noninsulin-dependent diabetes and in hypertension.
See also: Syndrome X.
| Hyperlipemia
- See: Hyperlipidemia.
| Hyperlipidemia
- Too high a level of fats (lipids) in the blood. See also: Syndrome
X.
| Hyperosmolar
coma - A coma (loss of consciousness) related to high levels of
glucose (sugar) in the blood and requiring emergency treatment. A
person with this condition is usually older and weak from loss of
body fluids and weight. The person may or may not have a previous
history of diabetes. Ketones (acids) are not present in the urine.
| Hypertension
| Hypoglycemia
| Hypotension
- Low blood pressure or a sudden drop in blood pressure. A person
rising quickly from a sitting or reclining position may have a
sudden fall in blood pressure, causing dizziness or fainting. | |
[edit]
I
| IDDM
- See: Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
| IGT -
See: Impaired glucose tolerance.
| Immunosuppressive
drugs - Drugs that block the body's ability to fight infection
or foreign substances that enter the body. A person receiving a
kidney or pancreas transplant is given these drugs to stop the body
from rejecting the new organ or tissue. Cyclosporin is a commonly
used immunosuppressive drug.
| Impaired
glucose tolerance (IGT) - Blood glucose (sugar) levels higher
than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. People with
IGT may or may not develop diabetes. Other names (no longer used)
for IGT are "borderline," "subclinical,"
"chemical," or "latent" diabetes.
| Implantable
insulin pump - A small pump placed inside of the body that
delivers insulin in response to commands from a hand-held device
called a programmer.
| Impotence
| Incidence
| Ingestion
- Taking food, water, or medicine into the body by mouth.
| Injection
- Putting liquid into the body with a needle and syringe.
| Insulin
| Insulin
allergy - When a person's body has an allergic or bad reaction
to taking insulin made from pork or beef or from bacteria, or
because the insulin is not exactly the same as human insulin or
because it has impurities. The allergy can be of two forms.
Sometimes an area of skin becomes red and itchy around the place
where the insulin is injected. This is called a local allergy. In
another form, a person's whole body can have a bad reaction This is
called a systemic allergy. The person can have hives or red patches
all over the body or may feel changes in the heart rate and in the
rate of breathing. A doctor may treat this allergy by prescribing
purified insulins or by desensitization. See also: Desensitization.
| Insulin
antagonist - Something that opposes or fights the action of
insulin. Insulin lowers the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood,
whereas glucagon raises it; therefore, glucagon is an antagonist of
insulin.
| Insulin
binding - When insulin attaches itself to something else. This
can occur in two ways. First, when a cell needs energy, insulin can
bind with the outer part of the cell. The cell then can bring
glucose (sugar) inside and use it for energy. With the help of
insulin, the cell can do its work very well and very quickly. But
sometimes the body acts against itself. In this second case, the
insulin binds with the proteins that are supposed to protect the
body from outside substances (antibodies). If the insulin is an
injected form of insulin and not made by the body, the body sees the
insulin as an outside or "foreign" substance. When the
injected insulin binds with the antibodies, it does not work as well
as when it binds directly to the cell.
| Insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus (IDDM) - A chronic condition in which the
pancreas makes little or no insulin because the beta cells have been
destroyed. The body is then not able to use the glucose (blood
sugar) for energy. IDDM usually comes on abruptly, although the
damage to the beta cells may begin much earlier. The signs of IDDM
are a great thirst, hunger, a need to urinate often, and loss of
weight. To treat the disease, the person must inject insulin, follow
a diet plan, exercise daily, and test blood glucose several times a
day. IDDM usually occurs in children and adults who are under age
30. This type of diabetes used to be known as "juvenile
diabetes," "juvenile-onset diabetes," and
"ketosis-prone diabetes." It is also called type I
diabetes mellitus.
| Insulin-induced
atrophy - Small dents that form on the skin when a person keeps
injecting a needle in the same spot. They are harmless. See also:
Lipoatrophy; injection site rotation.
| Insulin-induced
hypertrophy - Small lumps that form under the skin when a person
keeps injecting a needle in the same spot. See also: Lipodystrophy;
injection site rotation.
| Insulin
pen - An insulin injection device the size of a pen that
includes a needle and holds a vial of insulin. It can be used
instead of syringes for giving insulin injections.
| Insulin
pump
| Insulin
reaction - Too low a level of glucose (sugar) in the blood; also
called hypoglycemia. This occurs when a person with diabetes has
injected too much insulin, eaten too little food, or exercised
without extra food. The person may feel hungry, nauseated, weak,
nervous, shaky, confused, and sweaty. Taking small amounts of sugar,
sweet juice, or food with sugar will usually help the person feel
better within 10-15 minutes. See also: Hypoglycemia; insulin shock.
| Insulin
receptors - Areas on the outer part of a cell that allow the
cell to join or bind with insulin that is in the blood. When the
cell and insulin bind together, the cell can take glucose (sugar)
from the blood and use it for energy.
| Insulin
resistance
| Insulin
shock - A severe condition that occurs when the level of blood
glucose (sugar) drops quickly. The signs are shaking, sweating,
dizziness, double vision, convulsions, and collapse. Insulin shock
may occur when an insulin reaction is not treated quickly enough.
See also: Hypoglycemia; insulin reaction.
| Insulinoma
- A tumor of the beta cells in areas of the pancreas called the
islets of Langerhans. Although not usually cancerous, such tumors
may cause the body to make extra insulin and may lead to a blood
glucose (sugar) level that is too low.
| |