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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
V X
Ketoacidosis
See: Diabetic ketoacidosis.
Ketone Bodies
Chemicals that the
body makes when there is not enough insulin in the blood and
it must break down fat for its energy. Ketone bodies can poison
and even kill body cells. When the body does not have the help
of insulin, the ketones build up in the blood and then "spill"
over into the urine so that the body can get rid of them. The
body can also rid itself of one type of ketone, called acetone,
through the lungs. This gives the breath a fruity odor. Ketones
that build up in the body for a long time lead to serious illness
and coma. See also: Diabetic ketoacidosis.
Ketonuria
Having ketone bodies
in the urine; a warning sign of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Ketosis
A condition of having
ketone bodies build up in body tissues and fluids. The signs
of ketosis are nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Ketosis can
lead to ketoacidosis.
Kidney Disease
Any one of several
chronic conditions that are caused by damage to the cells of
the kidney. People who have had diabetes for a long time may
have kidney damage. Also called nephropathy.
Kidneys
Two organs in the
lower back that clean waste and poisons from the blood. The
kidneys are shaped like two large beans, and they act as the
body's filter. They also control the level of some chemicals
in the blood such as hydrogen, sodium, potassium, and phosphate.
Kidney Threshold
The point at which
the blood is holding too much of a substance such as glucose
(sugar) and the kidneys "spill" the excess sugar into the urine.
See also: Renal threshold.
Kussmaul
Breathing
The rapid, deep,
and labored breathing of people who have ketoacidosis or who
are in a diabetic coma. Kussmaul breathing is named for Adolph
Kussmaul, the 19th century German doctor who first noted it.
Also called "air hunger."
Labile Diabetes
A term used to indicate
when a person's blood glucose (sugar) level often swings quickly
from high to low and from low to high. Also called brittle diabetes.
Lactic Acidosis
The buildup of lactic
acid in the body. The cells make lactic acid when they use glucose
(sugar) for energy. If too much lactic acid stays in the body,
the balance tips and the person begins to feel ill. The signs
of lactic acidosis are deep and rapid breathing, vomiting, and
abdominal pain. Lactic acidosis may be caused by diabetic ketoacidosis
or liver or kidney disease.
Lactose
A type of sugar found
in milk and milk products (cheese, butter, etc.). It is considered
a nutritive sweetener because it has calories.
Lancet
A fine, sharp-pointed
blade or needle for pricking the skin.
Laser Treatment
Using a special strong
beam of light of one color (laser) to heal a damaged area. A
person with diabetes might be treated with a laser beam to heal
blood vessels in the eye. See also: Photocoagulation.
Latent Diabetes
Former term for impaired
glucose tolerance. See also: Impaired glucose tolerance.
Lente Insulin
A type of insulin
that is intermediate-acting.
Limited Joint
Mobility
A form of arthritis
involving the hand; it causes the fingers to curve inward and
the skin on the palm to tighten and thicken. This condition
mainly affects people with IDDM.
Lipid
A term for fat. The
body stores fat as energy for future use just like a car that
has a reserve fuel tank. When the body needs energy, it can
break down the lipids into fatty acids and burn them like glucose
(sugar).
Lipoatrophy
Small dents in the
skin that form when a person keeps injecting the needle in the
same spot. See also: Lipodystrophy.
Lipodystrophy
Lumps or small dents
in the skin that form when a person keeps injecting the needle
in the same spot. Lipodystrophies are harmless. People who want
to avoid them can do so by changing (rotating) the places where
they inject their insulin. Using purified insulins may also
help. See also: Injection site rotation.
Macroangiopathy
See: Angiopathy.
Macrosomia
Abnormally large;
in diabetes, refers to abnormally large babies that may be born
to women with diabetes.
Macrovascular
Disease
A disease of the
large blood vessels that sometimes occurs when a person has
had diabetes for a long time. Fat and blood clots build up in
the large blood vessels and stick to the vessel walls. Three
kinds of macrovascular disease are coronary disease, cerebrovascular
disease, and peripheral vascular disease.
Macular Edema
A swelling (edema)
in the macula, an area near the center of the retina of the
eye that is responsible for fine or reading vision. Macular
edema is a common complication associated with diabetic retinopathy.
See also: Diabetic retinopathy; retina.
Maturity-Onset
Diabetes
Former term for noninsulin-dependent
or type II diabetes. See: Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Meal Plan
A guide for controlling
the amount of calories, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats a
person eats. People with diabetes can use such plans as the
Exchange Lists or the Point System to help them plan their meals
so that they can keep their diabetes under control. See also:
Exchange lists; point system.
Metabolism
The term for the
way cells chemically change food so that it can be used to keep
the body alive. It is a two-part process. One part is called
catabolism-when the body uses food for energy. The other is
called anabolism-when the body uses food to build or mend cells.
Insulin is necessary for the metabolism of food.
Metformin
A drug currently
being tested as a treatment for noninsulin-dependent diabetes;
belongs to a class of drugs called biguanides.
Mg/dL
Milligrams per deciliter.
Term used to describe how much glucose (sugar) is in a specific
amount of blood. In self-monitoring of blood glucose, test results
are given as the amount of glucose in milligrams per deciliter
of blood. A fasting reading of 70 to 110 mg/dL is considered
in the normal (nondiabetic) range.
Microaneurysm
A small swelling
that forms on the side of tiny blood vessels. These small swellings
may break and bleed into nearby tissue. People with diabetes
sometimes get microaneurysms in the retina of the eye.
Microangiopathy
See: Angiopathy.
Microvascular
Disease
Disease of the smallest
blood vessels that sometimes occurs when a person has had diabetes
for a long time. The walls of the vessels become abnormally
thick but weak, and therefore they bleed, leak protein, and
slow the flow of blood through the body. Then some cells, for
example, the ones in the center of the eye, may not get enough
blood and may be damaged.
Mixed Dose
Combining two kinds
of insulin in one injection. A mixed dose commonly combines
regular insulin, which is fast acting, with a longer acting
insulin such as NPH. A mixed dose insulin schedule may be prescribed
to provide both short-term and long-term coverage.
Mononeuropathy
A form of diabetic
neuropathy affecting a single nerve. The eye is a common site
for this form of nerve damage. See also: Neuropathy.
Morbidity
Rate
The sickness rate;
the number of people who are sick or have a disease compared
with the number who are well.
Mortality
Rate
The death rate; the
number of people who die of a certain disease compared with
the total number of people. Mortality is most often stated as
deaths per 1,000, per 10,000, or per 100,000 persons.
Myocardial
Infarction
Also called a heart
attack; results from permanent damage to an area of the heart
muscle. This happens when the blood supply to the area is interrupted
because of narrowed or blocked blood vessels.
Myo-inositol
A substance in the
cell that is thought to play a role in helping the nerves to
work. Low levels of myo-inositol may be involved in diabetic
neuropathy.
National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
One of the 17 institutes
that make up the National Institutes of Health, an agency of
the Public Health Service.
Necrobiosis
Lipoidica Diabeticorum
A skin condition
usually on the lower part of the legs. The lesions can be small
or extend over a large area. They are usually raised, yellow,
and waxy in appearance and often have a purple border. Young
women are most often affected. This condition occurs in people
with diabetes, or it may be a sign of diabetes. It also occurs
in people who do not have diabetes.
Neovascularization
The term used when
new, tiny blood vessels grow in a new place, for example, out
from the retina. See also: Diabetic retinopathy.
Nephrologist
A doctor who sees
and treats people with kidney diseases.
Nephropathy
Disease of the kidneys
caused by damage to the small blood vessels or to the units
in the kidneys that clean the blood. People who have had diabetes
for a long time may have kidney damage.
Nerve Conduction
Studies
Tests to determine
nerve function; can detect early neuropathy.
Neurologist
A doctor who sees
and treats people with problems of the nervous system.
Neuropathy
Disease of the nervous
system. Many people who have had diabetes for a while have nerve
damage. The three major forms of nerve damage are: peripheral
neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, and mononeuropathy. The most
common form is peripheral neuropathy, which mainly affects the
feet and legs. See also: Peripheral neuropathy; autonomic neuropathy;
mononeuropathy.
NIDDM
See: Noninsulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus.
Noninsulin-Dependent
Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)
The most common form
of diabetes mellitus; about 90 to 95 percent of people who have
diabetes have NIDDM. Unlike the insulin-dependent type of diabetes,
in which the pancreas makes no insulin, people with noninsulin-dependent
diabetes produce some insulin, sometimes even large amounts.
However, either their bodies do not produce enough insulin or
their body cells are resistant to the action of insulin (see
Insulin Resistance). People with NIDDM can often control their
condition by losing weight through diet and exercise. If not,
they may need to combine insulin or a pill with diet and exercise.
Generally, NIDDM occurs in people who are over age 40. Most
of the people who have this type of diabetes are overweight.
Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus used to be called "adult-onset
diabetes," "maturity-onset diabetes," "ketosis-resistant diabetes,"
and "stable diabetes." It is also called type II diabetes mellitus.
Noninvasive
Blood Glucose Monitoring
A way to measure
blood glucose without having to prick the finger to obtain a
blood sample. Several noninvasive devices are currently being
developed.
Nonketotic
Coma
A type of coma caused
by a lack of insulin. A nonketotic crisis means: (1) very high
levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood; (2) absence of ketoacidosis;
(3) great loss of body fluid; and (4) a sleepy, confused, or
comatose state. Nonketotic coma often results from some other
problem such as a severe infection or kidney failure.
NPH Insulin
A type of insulin
that is intermediate-acting.
Nutrition
The process by which
the body draws nutrients from food and uses them to make or
mend its cells.
Nutritionist
See: Dietitian.
Obesity
When people have
20 percent (or more) extra body fat for their age, height, sex,
and bone structure. Fat works against the action of insulin.
Extra body fat is thought to be a risk factor for diabetes.
Obstetrician
A doctor who sees
and gives care to pregnant women and delivers babies.
OGTT
See: Oral glucose
tolerance test.
Ophthalmologist
A doctor who sees
and treats people with eye problems or diseases.
Optometrist
A person professionally
trained to test the eyes and to detect and treat eye problems
and some diseases by prescribing and adapting corrective lenses
and other optical aids and by suggesting eye exercise programs.
Oral Glucose
Tolerance Test (OGTT)
A test to see if
a person has diabetes. See: Glucose tolerance test.
Oral Hypoglycemic
Agents
Pills or capsules
that people take to lower the level of glucose (sugar) in the
blood. The pills work for some people whose pancreas still makes
some insulin. They can help the body in several ways such as
causing the cells in the pancreas to release more insulin.
Six types of these
pills are for sale in the United States. Four, known as "first-generation"
drugs, have been in use for some time. Two types, called "second-generation"
drugs, have been developed recently. They are stronger than
first-generation drugs and have fewer side effects. All oral
hypoglycemic agents belong to a class of drugs known as sulfonylureas.
Each type of pill is sold under two names: one is the generic
name as listed by the Food and Drug Administration; the other
is the trade name given by the manufacturer. They are:
First-Generation
Agents:
Generic Name:
Tolbutamide
Trade Name: Orinase
Generic Name:
Acetohexamide
Trade Name: Dymelor
Generic Name:
Tolazamide
Trade Name: Tolinase
Generic Name:
Chloropropamide
Trade Name: Diabinese
Second-Generation
Agents:
Generic Name:
Glipizide Trade Name: Glucotrol
Generic Name:
Glyburide Trade Name: Diabeta, Micronase
Overt Diabetes
Diabetes in the person
who shows clear signs of the disease such as a great thirst
and the need to urinate often.
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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