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Diabetes
Dictionary Index
A B C D E F G H I J K L
M N O P R S T U
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Fasting Blood
Glucose Test
A method for finding
out how much glucose (sugar) is in the blood. The test can show
if a person has diabetes. A blood sample is 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 from 70 to 110 mg/dl, depending on the type of blood
being tested. If the level is over 140 mg/dl, it usually means
the person has diabetes (except for newborns and some pregnant
women).
Fats
One of the three
main classes of foods and a source of energy in the body. Fats
help the body use some vitamins and keep the skin healthy. They
also serve as energy stores for the body. In food, there are
two types of fats: saturated and unsaturated.
Saturated fats are
solid at room temperature and come chiefly from animal food
products. Some examples are butter, lard, meat fat, solid shortening,
palm oil, and coconut oil. These fats tend to raise the level
of cholesterol, a fat-like substance in the blood.
Unsaturated fats,
which include monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats,
are liquid at room temperature and come from plant oils such
as olive, peanut, corn, cottonseed, sunflower, safflower, and
soybean. These fats tend to lower the level of cholesterol in
the blood. See also: Carbohydrate; protein.
Fatty Acids
A basic unit of fats.
When insulin levels are too low or there is not enough glucose
(sugar) to use for energy, the body burns fatty acids for energy.
The body then makes ketone bodies, waste products that cause
the acid level in the blood to become too high. This in turn
may lead to ketoacidosis, a serious problem. See also: Diabetic
ketoacidosis.
Fiber
A substance found
in foods that come from plants. Fiber helps in the digestive
process and is thought to lower cholesterol and help control
blood glucose (sugar). The two types of fiber in food are soluble
and insoluble. Soluble fiber, found in beans, fruits, and oat
products, dissolves in water and is thought to help lower blood
fats and blood glucose (sugar). Insoluble fiber, found in whole-grain
products and vegetables, passes directly through the digestive
system, helping to rid the body of waste products.
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.
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
A type of sugar found
in many fruits and vegetables and in honey. Fructose is used
to sweeten some diet foods. It is considered a nutritive sweetener
because it has calories.
Fundus of
the Eye
The back or deep
part of the eye, including the retina.
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.
Galactose
A type of sugar found
in milk products and sugar beets. It is also made by the body.
It is considered a nutritive sweetener because it has calories.
Gangrene
The death of 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. Food is not digested properly and
does not move through the stomach in a normal way, resulting
in vomiting, nausea, or bloating and interfering with diabetes
management. See also: Autonomic neuropathy.
Gene
A basic unit of heredity.
Genes are made of DNA, a substance that tells cells what to
do and when to do it. The information in the genes is passed
from parent to child-for example, a gene might tell some cells
to make the hair red or the eyes brown.
Genetic
Relating to genes.
See also: Gene; heredity.
Gestation
The length of pregnancy.
Gestational
Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
A type of diabetes
mellitus that can occur when a woman is pregnant. In the second
half of the pregnancy, the woman may have glucose (sugar) in
the 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.
Gingivitis
An inflammation of
the gums that if left untreated may lead to periodontal disease,
a serious gum disorder. Signs of gingivitis are inflamed and
bleeding gums. See also: Periodontal disease.
Gland
A group of special
cells that make substances so that other parts of the body can
work. For example, the pancreas is a gland that releases insulin
so that other body cells can use glucose (sugar) for energy.
See also: Endocrine glands.
Glaucoma
An eye disease associated
with increased pressure within the eye. Glaucoma can damage
the optic nerve and cause impaired vision and blindness.
Glomerular
Filtration Rate
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. The alpha cells of
the pancreas (in areas called the islets of Langerhans) make
glucagon when the body needs to put more sugar into the blood.
An injectable form
of glucagon, which can be bought in a drug store, is sometimes
used to treat insulin shock. The glucagon is injected and quickly
raises blood glucose levels. See also: Alpha cell.
Glucose
A simple sugar found
in the blood. It is the body's main source of energy; also known
as dextrose. See also: Blood glucose.
Glucose Tolerance
Test
A test to see if
a person has diabetes. The test is 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 glucose (sugar) 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.
Glycemic
Response
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.
Glycogen
A substance made
up of sugars. It is stored in the liver and muscles and releases
glucose (sugar) into the blood when needed by cells. Glycogen
is the chief source of stored fuel in the body.
Glycogenesis
(or glucogenesis)
The process by which
glycogen is formed from glucose. See also: Glycogen.
Glycosuria
Having glucose (sugar)
in the urine.
Glycosylated
Hemoglobin Test
A blood test that
measures a person's average blood glucose (sugar) level for
the 2- to 3-month period before the test. See: Hemoglobin A1C.
Gram
A unit of weight
in the metric system. There are 28 grams in 1 ounce. In some
diet plans for people with diabetes, the suggested amounts of
food are given in grams.
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)
The substance of
red blood cells that carries oxygen to the cells and sometimes
joins with glucose (sugar). Because the glucose stays attached
for the life of the cell (about 4 months), a test to measure
hemoglobin A1C shows what the person's average blood glucose
level was for that period of time.
Heredity
The passing of a
trait such as color of the eyes from parent to child. A person
"inherits" these traits through the genes.
High Blood
Pressure
When the blood flows
through the vessels at a greater than normal force. High blood
pressure strains the heart; harms the arteries; and increases
the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney problems. Also
called hypertension.
Hives (Urticaria)
A skin reaction that
results in slightly elevated patches that are redder or paler
than the surrounding skin and often are accompanied by itching.
HLA Antigens
Proteins on the outer
part of the cell that help the body fight illness. These proteins
vary from person to person. Scientists think that people with
certain types of HLA antigens are more likely to develop insulin-dependent
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.
Homeostatis
When the body is
working as it should because all of its systems are in balance.
Hormone
A chemical released
by special cells to tell other cells what to do. For instance,
insulin is a hormone made by the beta cells in the pancreas.
When released, insulin tells other cells to use glucose (sugar)
for energy.
Human Insulin
Man-made insulins
that are similar to insulin produced by your own body. Human
insulin has been available since October 1982.
Hyperglycemia
Too high a level
of glucose (sugar) in the blood; a sign that diabetes is out
of control. Many things can cause hyperglycemia. It occurs when
the body does not have enough insulin or cannot use the insulin
it does have to turn glucose into energy. Signs of hyperglycemia
are a great thirst, a dry mouth, and a need to urinate often.
For people with insulin-dependent diabetes, hyperglycemia may
lead to diabetic ketoacidosis.
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
Blood pressure that
is above the normal range. See also: High blood pressure.
Hypoglycemia
Too low a level of
glucose (sugar) in the blood. This occurs when a person with
diabetes has injected too much insulin, eaten too little food,
or has exercised without extra food. A person with hypoglycemia
may feel nervous, shaky, weak, or sweaty, and have a headache,
blurred vision, and hunger. Taking small amounts of sugar, sweet
juice, or food with sugar will usually help the person feel
better within 10-15 minutes. See also: Insulin shock.
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.
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
The loss of a man's
ability to have an erect penis and to emit semen. Some men may
become impotent after having diabetes for a long time because
the nerves or blood vessels have become damaged. Sometimes the
problem has nothing to do with diabetes and may be treated with
counseling.
Incidence
How often a disease
occurs; the number of new cases of a disease among a certain
group of people for a certain period of time.
Ingestion
Taking food, water,
or medicine into the body by mouth.
Injection
Putting liquid into
the body with a needle and syringe. A person with diabetes injects
insulin by putting the needle into the tissue under the skin
(called subcutaneous). Other ways of giving medicine or nourishment
by injection are to put the needle into a vein (intravenous)
or into a muscle (intramuscular).
Injection
Sites
Places on the body
where people can inject insulin most easily. These are:
- The outer area
of the upper arm.
- Just above and
below the waist, except the area right around the navel (a
2-inch circle).
- The upper area
of the buttock, just behind the hip bone.
- The front of the
thigh, midway to the outer side, 4 inches below the top of
the thigh to 4 inches above the knee.
These areas can vary
with the size of the person.
Injection
Site Rotation
Changing the places
on the body where a person injects insulin. Changing the injection
site keeps lumps or small dents from forming in the skin. These
lumps or dents are called lipodystrophies. However, people should
try to use the same body area for injections that are given
at the same time each day-for example, always using the stomach
for the morning injection or an arm for the evening injection.
Using the same body area for these routine injections lessens
the possibility of changes in the timing and action of insulin.
Insulin
A hormone that helps
the body use glucose (sugar) for energy. The beta cells of the
pancreas (in areas called the islets of Langerhans) make the
insulin. When the body cannot make enough insulin on its own,
a person with diabetes must inject insulin made from other sources,
i.e., beef, pork, human insulin (recombinant DNA origin), or
human insulin (pork-derived, semisynthetic).
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
A device that delivers
a continuous supply of insulin into the body. The insulin flows
from the pump through a plastic tube that is connected to a
needle inserted into the body and taped in place. Insulin is
delivered at two rates: a low, steady rate (called the basal
rate) for continuous day-long coverage, and extra boosts of
insulin (called bolus doses) to cover meals or when extra insulin
is needed. The pump runs on batteries and can be worn clipped
to a belt or carried in a pocket. It is used by people with
insulin-dependent diabetes.
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
Many people with
noninsulin-dependent diabetes produce enough insulin, but their
bodies do not respond to the action of insulin. This may happen
because the person is overweight and has too many fat cells,
which do not respond well to insulin. Also, as people age, their
body cells lose some of the ability to respond to insulin. Insulin
resistance is also linked to high blood pressure and high levels
of fat in the blood. Another kind of insulin resistance may
happen in some people who take insulin injections. They may
have to take very high doses of insulin every day (200 units
or more) to bring their blood glucose (sugar) down to the normal
range. This is also called "insulin insensitivity.
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.
Intensive
Intermittent Claudication
Pain in the muscles
of the leg that occurs off and on, usually while walking or
exercising, and results in lameness (claudication). The pain
results from a narrowing of the blood vessels feeding the muscle.
Drugs are available to treat this condition.
Intensive
Management
A form of treatment
for insulin-dependent diabetes in which the main objective is
to keep blood glucose (sugar) levels as close to the normal
range as possible. The treatment consists of three or more insulin
injections a day or use of an insulin pump; four or more blood
glucose tests a day; adjustment of insulin, food intake, and
activity levels based on blood glucose test results; dietary
counseling; and management by a diabetes team. See also: Diabetes
Control and Complications Trial; team management.
Intramuscular
Injection
Putting a fluid into
a muscle with a needle and syringe.
Intravenous
Injection
Putting a fluid into
a vein with a needle and syringe.
Islet Cell
Transplantation
Moving the beta (islet)
cells from a donor pancreas and putting them into a person whose
pancreas has stopped producing insulin. The beta cells make
the insulin that the body needs to use glucose (sugar) for energy.
Although transplanting islet cells may one day help people with
diabetes, the procedure is still in the research stage.
Islets of
Langerhans
Special groups of
cells in the pancreas. They make and secrete hormones that help
the body break down and use food. Named after Paul Langerhans,
the German scientist who discovered them in 1869, these cells
sit in clusters in the pancreas. There are five types of cells
in an islet: beta cells, which make insulin; alpha cells, which
make glucagon; delta cells, which make somatostaton; and PP
cells and D1 cells, about which little is known.
Jet Injector
A device that uses
high pressure to propel insulin through the skin and into the
body.
Juvenile
Onset Diabetes
Former term for insulin-dependent
or type I diabetes. See: Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
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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