Diabetes Dictionary Index
A B C D E F G H I J K L
M N O P R S T U
V X
ACE Inhibitor
A type of drug used
to lower blood pressure. Studies indicate that it may also help
prevent or slow the progression of kidney disease in people
with diabetes.
Acetohexamide
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.
Acetone
A chemical formed
in the blood when the body uses fat instead of glucose (sugar)
for energy. If acetone forms, it usually means that the cells
do not have enough insulin, or cannot use the insulin that is
in the blood, to use glucose for energy. Acetone passes through
the body into the urine. Someone with a lot of acetone in the
body can have breath that smells fruity and is called "acetone
breath." See also: Ketone bodies.
Acidosis
Too much acid in
the body. For a person with diabetes, this can lead to diabetic
ketoacidosis. See also: Diabetic ketoacidosis.
Acute
Happens for a limited
period of time; abrupt onset; sharp, severe.
Adrenal Glands
Two organs that sit
on top of the kidneys and make and release hormones such as
adrenalin (epinephrine). This and other hormones, including
insulin, control the body's use of glucose (sugar).
Adult-Onset
Diabetes
Former term for noninsulin-dependent
or type II diabetes. See also: Noninsulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus.
Adverse Effect
A harmful result.
Albuminuria
More than normal
amounts of a protein called albumin in the urine. Albuminuria
may be a sign of kidney disease, a problem that can occur in
people who have had diabetes for a long time.
Aldose Reductase
Inhibitor
A class of drugs
being studied as a way to prevent eye and nerve damage in people
with diabetes. Aldose reductase is an enzyme that is normally
present in the eye and in many other parts of the body. It helps
change glucose (sugar) into a sugar alcohol called sorbitol.
Too much sorbitol trapped in eye and nerve cells can damage
these cells, leading to retinopathy and neuropathy. Drugs that
prevent or slow (inhibit) the action of aldose reductase are
being studied as a way to prevent or delay these complications
of diabetes.
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.
Amino Acid
The building blocks
of proteins; the main material of the body's cells. Insulin
is made of 51 amino acids joined together.
Amyotrophy
A type of diabetic
neuropathy that causes muscle weakness and wasting.
Angiopathy
Disease of the blood
vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries) that occurs when
someone has diabetes for a long time. There are two types of
angiopathy: macroangiopathy and microangiopathy. In macroangiopathy,
fat and blood clots build up in the large blood vessels, stick
to the vessel walls, and block the flow of blood. In microangiopathy,
the walls of the smaller blood vessels become so thick and weak
that they bleed, leak protein, and slow the flow of blood through
the body. Then the cells, for example, the ones in the center
of the eye, do not get enough blood and may be damaged.
Anomalies
Birth defects; abnormalities.
Antagonist
One agent that opposes
or fights the action of another. For example, insulin lowers
the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood, whereas glucagon
raises it; therefore, insulin and glucagon are antagonists.
Antibodies
Proteins that the
body makes to protect itself from foreign substances. In diabetes,
the body sometimes makes antibodies to work against pork or
beef insulins because they are not exactly the same as human
insulin or because they have impurities. The antibodies can
keep the insulin from working well and may even cause the person
with diabetes to have an allergic or bad reaction to the beef
or pork insulins.
Antidiabetic
Agent
A substance 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.
Antigens
Substances that cause
an immune response in the body. The body "sees" the antigens
as harmful or foreign. To fight them, the body produces antibodies,
which attack and try to eliminate the antigens.
Antiseptic
An agent that kills
bacteria. Alcohol is a common antiseptic. Before injecting insulin,
many people use alcohol to clean their skin to avoid infection.
Arteriosclerosis
A group of diseases
in which the walls of the arteries get thick and hard. In one
type of arteriosclerosis, fat builds up inside the walls and
slows the blood flow. These diseases often occur in people who
have had diabetes for a long time. See also: Atherosclerosis.
Artery
A large blood vessel
that carries blood from the heart to other parts of the body.
Arteries are thicker and have walls that are stronger and more
elastic than the walls of veins. See also: Blood vessels.
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
A man-made sweetener
that people use in place of sugar because it has very few calories.
Asymptomatic
No symptoms; no clear
sign of disease present.
Atherosclerosis
One of many diseases
in which fat builds up in the large- and medium-sized arteries.
This buildup of fat may slow down or stop blood flow. This disease
can happen to people who have had diabetes for a long time.
Autoimmune
Disease
Disorder of the body's
immune system in which the immune system mistakenly attacks
and destroys body tissue that it believes to be foreign. Insulin-dependent
diabetes is an autoimmune disease because the immune system
attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells.
Autonomic
Neuropathy
A disease of the
nerves affecting mostly the internal organs such as the bladder
muscles, the cardiovascular system, the digestive tract, and
the genital organs. These nerves are not under a person's conscious
control and function automatically. Also called visceral neuropathy.
See also: Neuropathy.
Background
Retinopathy
Early stage of diabetic
retinopathy; usually does not impair vision. Also called "nonproliferative
retinopathy."
Basal Rate
Refers to a continuous
supply of low levels of insulin, as in insulin pump therapy.
Beta Cell
A type of cell in
the pancreas in areas called the islets of Langerhans. Beta
cells make and release insulin, a hormone that controls the
level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Beta Cell
Transplantation
See: Islet cell transplantation.
Biosynthetic
Human Insulin
A man-made insulin
that is very much like human insulin. See also: Human insulin.
Biphasic
Insulin
A type of insulin
that is a mixture of intermediate- and fast-acting insulin.
Blood Glucose
The main 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 and is carried to
each cell through the bloodstream. However, the cells cannot
use glucose without the help of insulin.
Blood Glucose
Meter
A machine that helps
test how much glucose (sugar) is in the blood. A specially coated
strip containing a fresh sample of blood is inserted in a machine,
when then calculates the correct level of glucose in the blood
sample and shows the result in a digital display. Some meters
have a memory that can store results from multiple tests.
Blood Glucose
Monitoring
A way of testing
how much glucose (sugar) is in the blood. A drop of blood, usually
taken from the fingertip, is placed on the end of a specially
coated strip, called a testing strip. The strip has a chemical
on it that makes it change color according to how much glucose
is in the blood. A person can tell if the level of glucose is
low, high, or normal in one of two ways. The first is by comparing
the color on the end of the strip to a color chart that is printed
on the side of the test strip container. The second is by inserting
the strip into a small machine, called a meter, which "reads"
the strip and shows the level of blood glucose in a digital
window display. Blood testing is more accurate than urine testing
in monitoring blood glucose levels because it shows what the
current level of glucose is, rather than what the level was
an hour or so previously.
Blood Pressure
The force of the
blood on the walls of arteries. Two levels of blood pressure
are measured-the higher, or systolic, pressure, which occurs
each time the heart pushes blood into the vessels, and the lower,
or diastolic, pressure, which occurs when the heart rests. In
a blood pressure reading of 120/80, for example, 120 is the
systolic pressure and 80 is the diastolic pressure. A reading
of 120/80 is said to be the normal range. Blood pressure that
is too high can cause health problems such as heart attacks
and strokes.
Blood-Sampling
Devices
A small instrument
for pricking the skin with a fine needle to obtain a sample
of blood to test for glucose (sugar). See also: Blood glucose
monitoring.
Blood Sugar
See: Blood glucose
Blood Urea
Nitrogen (BUN)
A waste product of
the kidneys. Increased levels of BUN in the blood may indicate
early kidney damage.
Blood Vessels
Tubes that act like
a system of roads or canals to carry blood to and from all parts
of the body. The three main types of blood vessels are arteries,
veins, and capillaries. The heart pumps blood through these
vessels so that the blood can carry with it oxygen and nutrients
that the cells need or take away waste that the cells do not
need.
Bolus
An extra boost of
insulin given to cover 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
A genetic disease
of the liver in which the body takes in too much iron from food.
Also called "hemocromatosis."
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. Shoes that fit well can keep bunions
from forming. Bunions can lead to other problems such as serious
infections. See also: Foot care.
C.D.E. (Certified
Diabetes Educator)
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 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.
Calcium Channel
Blocker
A drug used to lower
blood pressure.
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
Energy that comes
from food. Some foods have more calories than others. Fats have
many calories. Most vegetables have few. People with diabetes
are advised to follow meal plans with suggested amounts of calories
for each meal and/or snack. See also: Meal plan; exchange lists.
Capillary
The smallest of the
body's blood vessels. Capillaries have walls so thin that oxygen
and glucose can pass through them and enter the cells, and waste
products such as carbon dioxide can pass back into the blood
to be carried away and taken out of the body. Sometimes people
who have had diabetes for a long time find that their capillaries
become weak, especially those in the kidney and the retina of
the eye. See also: Blood vessels.
Capsaicin
A topical ointment
made from chili peppers used to relieve the pain of peripheral
neuropathy.
Carbohydrate
One of the three
main classes of foods and a source of energy. Carbohydrates
are mainly sugars and starches that the body breaks down into
glucose (a simple sugar that the body can use to feed its cells).
The body also uses carbohydrates to make a substance called
glycogen that is stored in the liver and muscles for future
use. If the body does not have enough insulin or cannot use
the insulin it has, then the body will not be able to use carbohydrates
for energy the way it should. This condition is called diabetes.
See also: Fats; protein.
Cardiologist
A doctor who sees
and takes care of people with heart disease; a heart specialist.
Cardiovascular
Relating to the heart
and blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries); the circulatory
system.
Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome
A nerve disorder
affecting the hand that may occur in people with diabetes; caused
by a pinched nerve.
Cataract
Clouding of the lens
of the eye. In people with diabetes, this condition is sometimes
referred to as "sugar cataract."
Cerebrovascular
Disease
Damage to the blood
vessels in the brain, resulting in a stroke. The blood vessels
become blocked because of fat deposits or they become thick
and hard, blocking the flow of blood to the brain. Sometimes,
the blood vessels may burst, resulting in a hemorrhagic stroke.
People with diabetes are at higher risk of cerebrovascular disease.
See also: Macrovascular disease; stroke.
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
A term 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
Cholesterol
A fat-like substance
found in blood, muscle, liver, brain, and other tissues in people
and animals. The body makes and needs some cholesterol. Too
much cholesterol, however, may cause fat to build up in the
artery walls and cause a disease that slows or stops the flow
of blood. Butter and egg yolks are foods that have a lot of
cholesterol.
Chronic
Present over a long
period of time. Diabetes is an example of chronic disease.
Circulation
The flow of blood
through the heart and blood vessels of the body.
Clinical
Trial
A scientifically
controlled study carried out in people, usually to test the
effectiveness of a new treatment.
Coma
A sleep-like state;
not conscious. May be due to a high or low level of glucose
(sugar) in the blood. See also: Diabetic coma.
Comatose
In a coma; not conscious.
Complications
of Diabetes
Harmful effects that
may happen when a person has diabetes. Some effects, such as
hypoglycemia, can happen any time. Others develop when a person
has had diabetes for a long time. These include damage to the
retina of the eye (retinopathy), the blood vessels (angiopathy),
the nervous system (neuropathy), and the kidneys (nephropathy).
Studies show that keeping blood glucose levels as close to the
normal, nondiabetic range as possible may help prevent, slow,
or delay harmful effects to the eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
Congenital
Defects
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. Congestive heart failure often develops gradually
over several years, although it also can happen suddenly. It
can be treated by drugs and in some cases, by surgery.
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). Also called: "Standard
Therapy."
Coronary
Disease
Damage to the heart.
Not enough blood flows through the vessels because they are
blocked with fat or have become thick and hard; this harms the
muscles of the heart. People with diabetes are at a higher risk
of coronary disease.
Coxsackie
B4 Virus
An agent that has
been shown to damage the beta cells of the pancreas in lab tests.
This virus may be one cause of insulin-dependent diabetes.
Creatinine
A chemical found
in the blood and passed in the urine. A test of the amount of
creatinine in blood or in blood and urine shows if the kidney
is working right or if it is diseased. This is called the creatinine
clearance test.
CSII: Continuous
Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion
See: Insulin pump.
Cyclamate
A man-made chemical
that people used instead of sugar. The Food and Drug Administration
banned the sale of cyclamates in 1973 because lab tests showed
that large amounts of cyclamates can cause bladder cancer in
rats.
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
Great loss of body
water. A very high level of glucose (sugar) in the urine causes
loss of a great deal of water, and the person becomes very thirsty.
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 a response such as an allergic reaction to something.
For instance, if a person with diabetes has a bad reaction to
taking a full dose of beef insulin, the doctor gives the person
a very small amount of the insulin at first. Over a period of
time, larger doses are given until the person is taking the
full dose. This is one way to help the body get used to the
full dose and to avoid having the allergic reaction.
Dextrose
A simple sugar found
in the blood. It is the body's main source of energy. Also called
glucose. See also: Blood 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 proved that
intensive management of insulin-dependent diabetes prevents
or slows the development of eye, kidney, and nerve damage caused
by diabetes.
Diabetes
Insipidus
A disease of the
pituitary gland or kidney, not diabetes mellitus. Diabetes insipidus
is often called "water diabetes" to set it apart from "sugar
diabetes." The cause and treatment are not the same as for diabetes
mellitus. "Water diabetes" has diabetes in its name because
most people who have it show most of the same signs as someone
with diabetes mellitus-they have to urinate often, get very
thirsty and hungry, and feel weak. However, they do not have
glucose (sugar) in their urine.
Diabetes
Mellitus
A disease that occurs
when the body is not able to use sugar as it should. The body
needs sugar for growth and energy for daily activities. It gets
sugar when it changes food into glucose (a form of sugar). A
hormone called insulin is needed for the glucose to be taken
up and used by the body. Diabetes occurs when the body cannot
make use of the glucose in the blood for energy because either
the pancreas is not able to make enough insulin or the insulin
that is available is not effective. The beta cells in areas
of the pancreas called the islets of Langerhans usually make
insulin.
There are two main
types of diabetes mellitus: insulin-dependent (Type I) and noninsulin-dependent
(Type II). In insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM), the pancreas
makes little or no insulin because the insulin-producing beta
cells have been destroyed. This type usually appears suddenly
and most commonly in younger people under age 30. Treatment
consists of daily insulin injections or use of an insulin pump,
a planned diet and regular exercise, and daily self-monitoring
of blood glucose.
In noninsulin-dependent
diabetes (NIDDM), the pancreas makes some insulin, sometimes
too much. The insulin, however, is not effective (see Insulin
Resistance). NIDDM is controlled by diet and exercise and daily
monitoring of glucose levels. Sometimes oral drugs that lower
blood glucose levels or insulin injections are needed. This
type of diabetes usually develops gradually, most often in people
over 40 years of age. NIDDM accounts for 90 to 95 percent of
diabetes.
The signs of diabetes
include having to urinate often, losing weight, getting very
thirsty, and being hungry all the time. Other signs are blurred
vision, itching, and slow healing of sores. People with untreated
or undiagnosed diabetes are thirsty and have to urinate often
because glucose builds to a high level in the bloodstream and
the kidneys are working hard to flush out the extra amount.
People with untreated diabetes often get hungry and tired because
the body is not able to use food the way it should.
In insulin-dependent
diabetes, if the level of insulin is too low for a long period
of time, the body begins to break down its stores of fat for
energy. This causes the body to release acids (ketones) into
the blood. The result is called ketoacidosis, a severe condition
that may put a person into a coma if not treated right away.
The causes of diabetes
are not known. Scientists think that insulin- dependent diabetes
may be more than one disease and may have many causes. They
are looking at hereditary (whether or not the person has parents
or other family members with the disease) and at factors both
inside and outside the body, including viruses.
Noninsulin-dependent
diabetes appears to be closely associated with obesity and with
the body resisting the action of insulin.
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
A severe emergency
in which a person is not conscious because the blood glucose
(sugar) is too low or too high. If the glucose level is too
low, the person has hypoglycemia; if the level is too high,
the person has hyperglycemia and may develop ketoacidosis. See
also: Hyperglycemia; hypoglycemia; diabetic ketoacidosis.
Diabetic
Ketoacidosis (DKA)
Severe, out-of-control
diabetes (high blood sugar) that needs emergency treatment.
DKA happens when blood sugar levels get too high. This may happen
because of illness, taking too little insulin, or getting too
little exercise. The body starts using stored fat for energy,
and ketone bodies (acids) build up in the blood.
Ketoacidosis starts
slowly and builds up. The signs include nausea and vomiting,
which can lead to loss of water from the body, stomach pain,
and deep and rapid breathing. Other signs are a flushed face,
dry skin and mouth, a fruity breath odor, a rapid and weak pulse,
and low blood pressure. If the person is not given fluids and
insulin right away, ketoacidosis can lead to coma and even death.
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
A disease of the
small blood vessels of the retina of the eye. When retinopathy
first starts, the tiny blood vessels in the retina become swollen,
and they leak a little fluid into the center of the retina.
The person's sight may be blurred. This condition is called
background retinopathy. About 80 percent of people with background
retinopathy never have serious vision problems, and the disease
never goes beyond this first stage.
However, if retinopathy
progresses, the harm to sight can be more serious. Many new,
tiny blood vessels grow out and across the eye. This is called
neovascularization. The vessels may break and bleed into the
clear gel that fills the center of the eye, blocking vision.
Scar tissue may also form near the retina, pulling it away from
the back of the eye. This stage is called proliferative retinopathy,
and it can lead to impaired vision and even blindness. See also:
Photocoagulation or vitrectomy for treatments.
Diabetogenic
Causing diabetes;
some drugs cause blood glucose (sugar) to rise, resulting in
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
A method for removing
waste such as urea from the blood when the kidneys can no longer
do the job. The two types of dialysis are: hemodialysis and
peritoneal dialysis. In hemodialysis, the patient's blood is
passed through a tube into a machine that filters out waste
products. The cleansed blood is then returned to the body.
In peritoneal dialysis,
a special solution is run through a tube into the peritoneum,
a thin tissue that lines the cavity of the abdomen. The body's
waste products are removed through the tube. There are three
types of peritoneal dialysis. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal
dialysis (CAPD), the most common type, needs no machine and
can be done at home. Continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis (CCPD)
uses a machine and is usually performed at night when the person
is sleeping. Intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD) uses the
same type of machine as CCPD, but is usually done in the hospital
because treatment takes longer. Hemodialysis and peritoneal
dialysis may be used to treat people with diabetes who have
kidney failure.
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
qualifications. The health care team for diabetes should 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
A drug that increases
the flow of urine to rid the body of extra fluid.
DKA See: Diabetic
ketoacidosis.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic
Acid)
A chemical substance
in plant and animal cells that tells the cells what to do and
when to do it. DNA is the information about what each person
inherits from his or her parents.
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.
Edema
A swelling or puffiness
of some part of the body such as the ankles. Water or other
body fluids collect in the cells and cause the swelling.
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
Glands that release
hormones into the bloodstream. They affect how the body uses
food (metabolism). They also influence other body functions.
One endocrine gland is the pancreas. It releases insulin so
the body can use sugar for energy. See also: Gland.
Endocrinologist
A doctor who treats
people who have problems with their endocrine glands. Diabetes
is an endocrine disorder. See also: Endocrine glands.
Endogenous
Grown or made inside
the body. Insulin made by a person's own pancreas is endogenous
insulin. Insulin that is made from beef or pork pancreas or
derived from bacteria is exogenous because it comes from outside
the body and must be injected.
End-Stage
Renal Disease (ESRD)
The final phase of
kidney disease; treated by dialysis or kidney transplantation.
See also: Dialysis; nephropathy.
Enzymes
A special type of
protein. Enzymes help the body's chemistry work better and more
quickly. Each enzyme usually has its own chemical job to do
such as helping to change starch into glucose (sugar).
Epidemiology
The study of a disease
that deals with how many people have it, where they are, how
many new cases develop, and how to control the disease.
Epinephrine
One of the secretions
of the adrenal glands. It helps the liver release glucose (sugar)
and limit the release of insulin. It also makes the heart beat
faster and can raise blood pressure; also called adrenalin.
Etiology
The study of what
causes a disease; also the cause or causes of a certain disease.
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.
NIH Publication No.
94-3016
August 1994
Diabetes Dictionary
Index
A B C D E F G H I J K L
M N O P R S T U
V X
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