Diabetes

Diabetes terms

1. A1C A test that sums up how much glucose has been sticking to part of the hemoglobin during the past 3–4 months.
2. ACE inhibitor A drug that is used to lower blood pressure. An ACE inhibitor is a type of antihypertensive agent. Also called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.
3. Acidosis A condition caused by high acidity in the blood.
4. Acute Complications Transient complications that are temporary and reversible due to blood glucose fluctuations having a short term impact on driving capability, such as…
5. Albumin (al-BYOO-min) A type of protein found in blood, egg white, milk, and other substances.
6. Albuminuria The presence of simple protein in the urine, sometimes indicative of kidney disease.
7. Alcohol Induced Diabetes See Latent Diabetes
8. Angina Chest pain or severe spasmatic and painful suffocation in the chest casued by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.
9. Atherosclerosis A chronic disease in which excessive amounts of fat and cholesterol remaining in the bloodstream collect on the inside walls of arteries, forming plaque…
10. Autoimmune process A process where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys body tissue that it mistakes for foreign matter.
11. Autonomic Neuropathy The autonomic nervous system (comprised of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems) are the nerves which control a whole range of bodily…
12. Background Diabetic Retinopathy (Non-proliferative Retinopathy) Is the earliest stage of diabetic retinopathy in the mildest form, fine blood vessels and retinal capillaries within the…
13. Balanced Diet (American Diabetes Association Diet) A proper diet is the utmost importance in the therapy for management in treating diabetes.
14. Beta Cells Cells that produce insulin within the body(endogenous) and found in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.
15. bladder (BLA-der) The organ that stores urine.
16. blood glucose The main sugar that the body makes from the food we eat. Glucose is carried through the bloodstream to provide energy to all of the body’s living cells.
17. Blood Glucose Monitoring Testing the blood or urine of a person with diabetes to help maintain the amount of glucose in the blood within reasonable limits.
18. blood pressure (blud PREH-sher) The force of circulating blood on the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure is taken using two measurements: systolic (measured when the…
19. blood sugar See blood glucose.
20. Blood Urea Nitrogen (blud yoo-REE-uh NY-truh-jen) Nitrogen in the blood that comes from urea (a substance formed by the breakdown of protein in the liver).
21. Brittle Diabetes (Labile or Unstable Diabetes) Marked fluctuations in blood glucose concentrations which are difficult to control causing frequent episodes of insulin…
22. calluses Thick, hardened areas of the skin, generally on the foot, caused by friction or pressure.
23. carbohydrate A sugar molecule. Carbohydrates can be small and simple (for example, glucose) or they can be large and complex (for example, polysaccharides such as…
24. Cardiovascular Disease Relating to the blood supply to the heart. Diabetes is a major risk factor for developing heart disease.
25. Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA, Stroke) Impaired cerebral blood supply.
26. Cerebrovascular Disease Relating to the blood supply to the brain, particularly with reference to pathologic changes such as stroke and other cognitive deficits.
27. Chemical Diabetes See Latent Diabetes
28. cholesterol (kuh-LESS-tuh-rawl) A waxy, fat-like substance made in the liver, and found in the blood and in all cells of the body.
29. Chronic Complications Associated with the duration of the disease, the lack of metabolic control of blood glucose, and other factors which result in tissue damage and have a…
30. Chronic Hyperglycemia Excessively high blood glucose that is slow progressing and long continuance of that may result in diabetic ketoacidosis or nonketotic hyperosmolar coma.
31. Claudication A condition caused by a local and temporary deficiency of blood to the muscles due to narrowing (sclerosis) of the arteries (Peripheral Artery Disease)…
32. Coma (KOH-muh) A condition in which a patient is in a state of deep sleep and cannot be awakened.
33. corns A thickening of the skin of the feet or hands, usually caused by pressure against the skin.
34. Coronary Vascular Disease Relating to the blood supply to the heart, particularly with reference to pathologic changes.
35. Diabetes Any of several diseases in which the kidneys make a large amount of urine. Diabetes usually refers to diabetes mellitus in which there is also a high…
36. Diabetes Complications Are either short term (acute) or long term (chronic) impairments which affect the microvascular or macrovascular blood vessels of persons with diabetes…
37. Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) A ten year study ending June 1993, was sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases comparing the effects of…
38. Diabetes Education Approved American Diabetes Association patient and family education for self-management and treatment of diabetes by: (1) Eating a recommended diet and…
39. Diabetes Insipidus Chronic excretion of very large amounts of urine causing dehydration and extreme thirst; ordinarily resulting from pituitary dysfunction, damage or injury.
40. diabetes mellitus (dye-a-BEE-teez MEL-ih-tus) A group of disorders in which there is a defect in the transfer of glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into cells, leading to…
41. diabetes pills Pills or capsules that are taken by mouth to help lower the blood glucose level. These pills may work for people whose bodies are still making insulin.
42. Diabetic Relating to or suffering from diabetes. The medical condition term "diabetic" should not be used to describe a person who has a diabetes disease.
43. Diabetic Coma Develops when insulin and blood glucose are so out of balance that ketones accumulate in the blood.
44. diabetic eye disease A disease of the small blood vessels of the retina of the eye in people with diabetes.
45. Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA, also see Diabetic Coma) The basis for DKA is either absolute deficiency of insulin or acute resistance to insulin developing when absolute insulin…
46. diabetic kidney disease Damage to the cells or blood vessels of the kidney.
47. Diabetic Macular Edema See Maculopathy
48. diabetic nerve damage Damage to the nerves of a person with diabetes. Nerve damage may affect the feet and hands, as well as major organs.
49. Diabetic Neuropathy (Peripheral and Autonomic Neuropathies) Damage to the nervous system which affects the peripheral nervous system causing impairment of motor nerves…
50. Diabetic Retinitis Inflammation of the retina of the eye caused or complicated by diabetes.
51. Diabetic Retinopathy (Background and Proliferative Retinopathy) A progressive disorder of the retina damaging the receptor cells and small blood vessels in the eye that can…
52. Diabetic Shock See Insulin Reation
53. Diabetologist (Diabetology) A specialist in the field of medicine concerned with diabetes.
54. dialysis (dye-AL-ih-sis) The process of filtering the blood when the kidneys are not able to cleanse it.
55. Diet Control See Balanced Diet
56. diphtheria An acute, contagious disease that causes fever and problems for the heart and nervous system.
57. Diplopia Objects appear double. Double vision.
58. EKG A test that measures the heart’s action. Also called an electrocardiogram.
59. Emergency Measures (Emergency Diabetes Assistance) The regimen of treatment for the rapid onset of hypoglycemia.
60. Endocrinologist (en-duh-krih-NAH-loh-jist) A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating hormone disorders.
61. flu An infection caused by the "flu" (short for "influenza") virus. The flu is a contagious viral illness that strikes quickly and severely.
62. food exchanges A way to help people stay on special food plans by letting them replace items from one food group with items from another group.
63. Foot Ulceration A wound with superficial loss of tissue from trauma and may become ulcerated if infection occurs.
64. Functional Impairments The Department of Motor Vehicles use in its medical guidelines specifically referring to a wide range of physical, mental or emotional impairments…
65. Gangrene A form of a wet or dry infection, frequently seen in diabetes causing decay and dying of tissue in a localized part of the body or involve an organ or a…
66. Gestational Diabetes (GDM) Diabetes mellitus that develops during pregnancy and usually goes away after pregnancy, but about 60% of those women will eventually develop Type II…
67. gingivitis A swelling and soreness of the gums that, without treatment, can cause serious gum problems and disease.
68. Glaucoma (glaw-KOH-muh) A condition in which there is a build-up of fluid in the eye, which presses on the retina and the optic nerve.
69. Glucagon A hormone produced by the pancreas that increases the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
70. Glucopenia See Hypoglycemia
71. glucose A type of sugar; the chief source of energy for living organisms.
72. Glycohemoglobin (GHb) A glycosylated hemoglobin test administered by the physician to review average blood glucose control for the past three to four months before the…
73. Glycosuria (Glucosuria) The urinary excretion of glucose usually in enhanced quantities.
74. GrowthOnset Diabetes See Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus.
75. HDL (or high-density lipoprotein ) A combined protein and fatlike substance. Low in cholesterol, it usually passes freely through the arteries. Sometimes called "good cholesterol."
76. Health Care Team A support group of health-care professionals who helps persons manage diabetes.
77. Heart Attack Damage to the heart muscle caused when the blood vessels supplying the muscle are blocked, such as when the blood vessels are clogged with fats (a…
78. Heart Disease See Coronary Vascular Disease.
79. Hemodialysis The most common form of treatment for end stage renal failure. Surgery is required to join one artery to a vein to form a larger vein called a fistula or…
80. high blood glucose A condition that occurs in people with diabetes when their blood glucose levels are too high.
81. high blood pressure (hy blud PREH-sher) A blood pressure of 140/90 or higher. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms.
82. hormone (HOR-mone) One of many chemicals made by glands in the body. Hormones circulate in the bloodstream and control the actions of certain cells or organs.
83. Human Error Lack of or reluctance to use proper diabetes education techniques by person with diabetes or other individual assisting in self-management and treatment…
84. hyperglycemia (HY-per-gly-SEE-mee-uh) Higher than normal amount of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood. Hyperglycemia can be a sign of diabetes or other conditions.
85. Hyperglycemic Episode or Reation Slow onset of severe elevation in blood glucose levels causing acute complications including stupor, lethargy, blurred vision, disorientation, slow…
86. Hyperinsulinism (Hyperinsulinemia) Increased levels of insulin in the plasma due to increased secretion of insulin by the beta cells (cells that make insulin) of the…
87. Hyperlipidemia (Lipemia) The presence of an abnormally large amount of lipids (fats) in the circulating blood.
88. Hyperparathyroidism (HY-per-PAYR-uh-THY-roy-dih-zum) A condition in which the parathyroid gland (one of four pea-sized organs found on the thyroid) makes too much parathyroid…
89. Hypertension (HY-per-TEN-shun) A blood pressure of 140/90 or higher. Hypertension usually has no symptoms.
90. Hypoglycemia Abnormally low blood sugar.
91. Hypoglycemia Unawareness The lack of ability to recognize warning signs (symptoms) of the sympathetic nervous system (adrenergic) involving weakness, nervousness, sweating, cold…
92. Hypoglycemic Coma Resulting from excessive doses of exogenous (injected) insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents medication.
93. Hypoglycemic Episode or Reaction See Insulin Reactions
94. Hyponatremia Low blood sodium.
95. Hypoparathyroidism Increased secretion of parathyroid hormone. Symptoms and signs include neuromuscular excitability, cramps, spasm, and generalized tetany, paresthesias…
96. Hypoxia A condition in which there is a decrease in the oxygen supply to a tissue. In cancer treatment, the level of hypoxia in a tumor may help predict the…
97. immunization A technique used to cause an immune response that results in resistance to a specific disease, especially an infectious disease.
98. Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) A condition, not considered a form of diabetes, diagnosed when oral glucose tolerance test results show that a person's blood glucose level falls…
99. impotence In medicine, refers to the inability to have an erection of the penis adequate for sexual intercourse. Also called erectile dysfunction.
100. Influenza See flu.