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acanthosis
(uh-kan-THO-sis) nigricans (NIH-grih-kans):
a skin
condition characterized by darkened skin patches; common
in people whose body is not responding correctly to the
insulin that they make
in their pancreas (insulin resistance). This
skin condition is also seen in people who have pre-diabetes
or type 2 diabetes.
acarbose
(AK-er-bose):
an
oral medicine used to treat type 2
diabetes. It blocks the enzymes
that digest starches in food. The result
is a slower and lower rise in blood glucose
throughout the day, especially right after meals. Belongs
to the class of medicines called alpha-glucosidase inhibitors.
(Brand name: Precose.)
ACE
inhibitor: an oral medicine that lowers blood pressure; ACE stands for angiotensin (an-gee-oh-TEN-sin)
converting enzyme. For people with diabetes,
especially those who have protein (albumin)
in the urine, it also helps slow down kidney
damage.
acesulfame
(a-see-SUL-fame) potassium (puh-TAS-ee-um):
a dietary sweetener with no calories
and no nutritional value. Also known as acesulfame-K.
(Brand name: Sunett.)
acetohexamide
(a-see-toh-HEX-uh-myde): an oral medicine used
to treat type 2 diabetes.
It lowers blood glucose by helping the pancreas
make more insulin and by helping the body
better use the insulin it makes. Belongs to the class
of medicines called sulfonylureas. (Brand name: Dymelor.)
Actos:
see pioglitazone.
acute:
describes something that happens suddenly and for
a short time. Opposite of chronic.
adhesive
capsulitis (cap-soo-LITE-is): a condition
of the shoulder associated with diabetes that results
in pain and loss of the ability to move the shoulder in
all directions.
adult-onset
diabetes: former term for type
2 diabetes.
AGEs
(A-G-EEZ): stands
for advanced glycosylation (gly-KOH-sih-LAY-shun) endproducts.
AGEs are produced in the body when glucose
links with protein. They play a role in
damaging blood vessels, which can lead to diabetes complications.
albuminuria
(al-BYOO-mih-NOO-ree-uh): a condition in which
the urine has more than
normal amounts of a protein
called albumin. Albuminuria may be a sign of glucose
(kidney disease).
alpha
(AL-fa) cell: a type of cell in the pancreas.
Alpha cells make and release a hormone called
glucagon. The body sends a signal to the
alpha cells to make glucagon when blood glucose
falls too low. Then glucagon reaches the liver
where it tells it to release glucose into
the blood for energy.
alpha-glucosidase
(AL-fa-gloo-KOH-sih-days) inhibitor: a
class of oral medicine for type 2
diabetes that blocks enzymes
that digest starches in food. The result
is a slower and lower rise in blood glucose
throughout the day, especially right after meals. (Generic
names: acarbose and miglitol.)
Amaryl:
see glimepiride.
amylin
(AM-ih-lin): a
hormone formed by beta cells
in the pancreas. Amylin regulates the timing
of glucose release into the bloodstream
after eating by slowing the emptying of the stomach.
amyotrophy
(a-my-AH-truh-fee): a type of neuropathy
resulting in pain, weakness, and/or wasting in the muscles.
anemia
(uh-NEE-mee-uh): a condition in which the number
of red blood cells is less than normal, resulting in less
oxygen being carried to the body's cells.
angiopathy
(an-gee-AH-puh-thee): any
disease of the blood vessels
(veins, arteries, capillaries) or lymphatic vessels.
antibodies
(AN-ti-bod-eez): proteins
made by the body to protect itself from "foreign"
substances such as bacteria or viruses. People get type
1 diabetes when their bodies make antibodies that
destroy the body's own insulin-making
beta cells.
A1C:
a
test that measures a person's average blood
glucose level over the past 2 to 3 months. Hemoglobin
(HEE-mo-glo-bin) is the part of a red blood cell that
carries oxygen to the cells and sometimes joins with the
glucose in the bloodstream.
Also called hemoglobin A1C or glycosylated (gly-KOH-sih-lay-ted)
hemoglobin, the test shows the amount of glucose that
sticks to the red blood cell, which is proportional to
the amount of glucose in the blood.
ARB:
an
oral medicine that lowers blood pressure;
ARB stands for angiotensin (an-gee-oh-TEN-sin) receptor
blocker.
arteriosclerosis
(ar-TEER-ee-oh-skluh-RO-sis): hardening of
the arteries.
artery:
a large impotence that carries blood
with oxygen from the heart to all parts of the body.
aspart
(ASS-part) insulin: a rapid-acting insulin.
On average, aspart insulin starts to lower blood glucose within 10 to 20 minutes after injection.
It has its strongest effect 1 to 3 hours after injection
but keeps working for 3 to 5 hours after injection.
aspartame
(ASS-per-tame): a
dietary sweetener with almost no calories
and no nutritional value. (Brand names: Equal, NutraSweet.)
atherosclerosis
(ATH-uh-row-skluh-RO-sis): clogging, narrowing,
and hardening of the body's large arteries
and medium-sized blood vessels.
Atherosclerosis can lead to stroke,
heart attack, eye problems, and kidney
problems.
autoimmune
(AW-toh-ih-MYOON) 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.
autonomic
(aw-toh-NOM-ik) neuropathy (ne-ROP-uh-thee):
a type of neuropathy affecting
the lungs, heart, stomach, intestines, bladder, or genitals.
Avandia:
see rosiglitazone.
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background
retinopathy (REH-tih-NOP-uh-thee): a type of
damage to the retina of the eye marked by
bleeding, fluid accumulation, and abnormal dilation of
the blood vessels. Background
retinopathy is an early stage of diabetic retinopathy.
Also called simple or nonproliferative (non-pro-LIF-er-uh-tiv)
retinopathy.
basal
rate: a
steady trickle of low levels of longer-acting insulin,
such as that used in insulin pumps.
beta
cell: a
cell that makes insulin. Beta cells are
located in the islets
of the pancreas.
biguanide
(by-GWAH-nide): a class of oral medicine used
to treat type 2 diabetes
that lowers blood glucose
by reducing the amount of glucose produced
by the liver and by helping the body respond
better to insulin. (Generic
name: metformin.)
blood
glucose: the main sugar found
in the blood and the body's main source of energy. Also
called blood sugar.
blood
glucose level: the amount of glucose
in a given amount of blood. It is noted in milligrams
in a deciliter, or mg/dL.
blood
glucose meter: a
small, portable machine used by people with diabetes to
check their blood glucose levels. After
pricking the skin with a lancet, one places
a drop of blood on a test strip in the machine. The meter
(or monitor) soon displays the blood glucose level as
a number on the meter's digital display.
blood
glucose monitoring: checking
blood glucose level on
a regular basis in order to manage diabetes. A blood
glucose meter (or blood glucose test strips
that change color when touched by a blood sample) is needed
for frequent blood glucose monitoring.
blood
pressure: the force of blood exerted on the
inside walls of blood vessels.
Blood pressure is expressed as a ratio (example: 120/80,
read as "120 over 80"). The first number is
the systolic (sis-TAH-lik) pressure, or the pressure when
the heart pushes blood out into the arteries.
The second number is the diastolic (DY-uh-STAH-lik) pressure,
or the pressure when the heart rests.
blood
sugar: see blood glucose.
blood
sugar level: see
blood glucose level.
blood
urea (yoo-REE-uh) nitrogen (NY-truh-jen) (BUN):
a waste product in the blood from the breakdown of
protein. The kidneys filter
blood to remove urea. As kidney function
decreases, the BUN levels increase.
blood
vessels: tubes
that carry blood to and from all parts of the body. The
three main types of blood vessels are arteries,
veins, and capillaries.
BMI:
see body mass index.
body
mass index (BMI): a measure used to evaluate
body weight relative to a person's height. BMI is used
to find out if a person is underweight, normal weight,
overweight, or obese.
bolus
(BOH-lus): an
extra amount of insulin taken to cover an
expected rise in blood glucose, often related
to a meal or snack.
borderline
diabetes: a former term for type
2 diabetes or impaired
glucose tolerance.
brittle
diabetes: a term used when a person's blood glucose level moves often from low to high and
from high to low.
BUN:
see blood urea nitrogen.
bunion
(BUN-yun): a bulge on the first joint of the
big toe, caused by the swelling of a fluid sac under the
skin. This spot can become red, sore, and infected.
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callus:
a small area of skin, usually on the foot, that
has become thick and hard from rubbing or pressure.
calorie:
a unit representing the energy provided by food.
carbohydrate, protein, fat,
and alcohol provide calories in the diet. Carbohydrate
and protein have 4 calories per gram, fat has 9 calories
per gram, and alcohol has 7 calories per gram.
capillary
(KAP-ih-lair-ee): the
smallest of the body's blood vessels.
Oxygen and glucose pass through capillary
walls and enter the cells. Waste products such as carbon
dioxide pass back from the cells into the blood through
capillaries.
capsaicin
(kap-SAY-ih-sin): an
ingredient in hot peppers that can be found in ointment
form for use on the skin to relieve pain from diabetic
neuropathy.
carbohydrate
(kar-boh-HY-drate): one
of the three main nutrients in food. Foods that provide
carbohydrate are starches, vegetables,
fruits, dairy products, and sugars.
carbohydrate
counting: a
method of meal planning for people with diabetes based
on counting the number of grams of carbohydrate
in food.
cardiologist
(kar-dee-AH-luh-jist): a doctor who treats
people who have heart problems.
cardiovascular
(KAR-dee-oh-VASK-yoo-ler) disease: disease
of the heart and blood vessels (arteries,
veins, and capillaries).
cataract
(KA-ter-act): clouding of the lens of the
eye.
CDE:
see certified diabetes educator.
cerebrovascular
(seh-REE-broh-VASK-yoo-ler) disease: damage
to blood vessels in the brain. Vessels
can burst and bleed or become clogged with fatty deposits.
When blood flow is interrupted, brain cells die or are
damaged, resulting in a stroke.
certified
diabetes educator (CDE): a health care professional
with expertise in diabetes education who has met eligibility
requirements and successfully completed a certification
exam.
See diabetes educator.
Charcot's
(shar-KOHZ) foot: a condition in which the
joints and soft tissue in the foot are destroyed; it
results from damage to the nerves.
cheiroarthropathy
(KY-roh-ar-THRAHP-uh-thee): see
limited joint mobility.
cheiropathy
(ky-RAH-puh-thee):
see limited joint mobility.
chlorpropamide
(klor-PROH-pah-mide): an
oral medicine used to treat type
2 diabetes. It lowers blood glucose levels by helping the pancreas
make more insulin and by helping the body
better use the insulin it makes. Belongs to the class
of medicines called sulfonylureas. (Brand name: Diabinese.)
cholesterol
(koh-LES-ter-all): a type of fat
produced by the liver and found in the
blood; it is also found in some foods. Cholesterol is
used by the body to make hormones and
build cell walls.
chronic:
describes something that is long-lasting. Opposite
of acute.
circulation:
the flow of blood through the body's blood vessels and heart.
coma:
a sleep-like state in which a person is not conscious.
May be caused by hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) or hypoglycemia (low
blood glucose) in people with diabetes.
combination
oral medicines: a
pill that includes two or more different medicines.
See Glucovance.
combination
therapy: the
use of different medicines together (oral hypoglycemic
agents or an oral hypoglycemic agent and insulin)
to manage the blood glucose levels of
people with type 2 diabetes.
complications:
harmful effects of diabetes such as damage to the
eyes, heart, blood vessels, nervous system,
teeth and gums, feet and skin, or kidneys.
Studies show that keeping blood glucose,
blood pressure, and low-density
lipoprotein cholesterol levels close to normal
can help prevent or delay these problems.
congenital
(kun-JEN-ih-tul) defects: problems or conditions
that are present at birth.
congestive
heart failure: loss of the heart's pumping
power, which causes fluids to collect in the body, especially
in the feet and lungs.
conventional
therapy: a term used in clinical trials where
one group receives treatment for diabetes in which A1C
and blood glucose levels are kept at levels
based on current practice guidelines. However, the goal
is not to keep blood glucose levels as close to normal
as possible, as is done in intensive therapy.
Conventional therapy includes use of medication, meal
planning, and exercise, along with regular visits to
health care providers.
coronary
artery disease: see coronary
heart disease.
coronary
(KOR-uh-ner-ee) heart disease: heart disease
caused by narrowing of the arteries that
supply blood to the heart. If the blood supply is cut
off the result is a heart attack.
C-peptide
(see-peptide): "Connecting
peptide," a substance the pancreas
releases into the bloodstream in equal amounts to insulin.
A test of C-peptide levels shows how much insulin
the body is making.
creatinine
(kree-AT-ih-nin): a waste product from protein
in the diet and from the muscles of the body. Creatinine
is removed from the body by the kidneys;
as kidney disease progresses, the level of creatinine
in the blood increases.
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dawn
phenomenon (feh-NAH-meh-nun): the
early-morning (4 a.m. to 8 a.m.) rise in blood glucose level.
DCCT:
see Diabetes Control and Complications
Trial.
dehydration
(dee-hy-DRAY-shun): the loss of too much body
fluid through frequent urinating, sweating, diarrhea,
or vomiting.
dermopathy
(dur-MAH-puh-thee): disease of the skin.
desensitization
(dee-sens-ih-tiz-A-shun): a way to reduce or
stop a response such as an allergic reaction to something.
For example, if someone has an allergic reaction to something,
the doctor gives the person a very small amount of the
substance at first to increase one's tolerance. 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 prevent the allergic
reaction.
dextrose
(DECKS-trohss), also called glucose:
simple
sugar found in blood that serves as the
body's main source of energy.
DiaBeta:
see glyburide.
diabetes:
see diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes
Control and Complications Trial (DCCT): a study
by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and
Kidney Diseases, conducted from 1983 to 1993 in people
with type 1 diabetes. The study showed that
intensive therapy compared to conventional
therapy significantly helped prevent or delay
diabetes complications. Intensive therapy
included multiple daily insulin injections
or the use of an insulin pump with multiple
blood glucose readings each day. Complications
followed in the study included diabetic retinopathy,
neuropathy, and glucose.
diabetes
educator: a health care professional who teaches
people who have diabetes how to manage their diabetes.
Some diabetes educators are certified diabetes educators
(CDEs). Diabetes educators are found in hospitals, physician
offices, managed care organizations, home health care,
and other settings.
diabetes
insipidus (in-SIP-ih-dus): a
condition characterized by frequent and heavy urination,
excessive thirst, and an overall feeling of weakness.
This condition may be caused by a defect in the pituitary
gland or in the kidney. In diabetes insipidus,
blood glucose levels are normal.
diabetes
mellitus (MELL-ih-tus): a condition characterized
by hyperglycemia resulting from the body's
inability to use blood glucose for energy.
In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas
no longer makes insulin and therefore blood
glucose cannot enter the cells to be used for energy.
In type 2 diabetes, either
the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body
is unable to use insulin correctly.
Diabetes
Prevention Program (DPP): a study by the National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
conducted from 1998 to 2001 in people at high risk for
type 2 diabetes. All study
participants had impaired glucose
tolerance, also called pre-diabetes,
and were overweight.
The study showed that people who lost 5 to 7 percent of
their body weight through a low-fat, low-calorie diet
and moderate exercise (usually walking for 30 minutes
5 days a week) reduced their risk of getting type 2 diabetes
by 58 percent. Participants who received treatment with
the oral diabetes drug metformin reduced
their risk of getting type 2 diabetes by 31 percent.
diabetic
diarrhea (dy-uh-REE-uh): loose stools, fecal
incontinence, or both that result from an overgrowth of
bacteria in the small intestine and diabetic neuropathy
in the intestines. This nerve damage can also result in
constipation.
diabetic
eye disease: see diabetic
retinopathy.
diabetic
ketoacidosis (KEY-toe-ass-ih-DOH-sis) (DKA):
an
emergency condition in which extremely high blood glucose levels, along with a severe lack of insulin,
result in the breakdown of body fat for
energy and an accumulation of ketones in
the blood and urine. Signs of DKA are nausea
and vomiting, stomach pain, fruity breath odor, and rapid
breathing. Untreated DKA can lead to coma
and death.
diabetic
myelopathy (my-eh-LAH-puh-thee): damage
to the spinal cord found in some people with diabetes.
diabetic
nephropathy: see nephropathy.
diabetic
neuropathy: see
neuropathy.
diabetic
retinopathy (REH-tih-NOP-uh-thee): diabetic
eye disease; damage to the small blood vessels
in the retina. Loss of vision may result.
diabetogenic
(DY-uh-beh-toh-JEN-ic): causing
diabetes. For example, some drugs cause blood glucose levels to rise, resulting in diabetes.
diabetologist
(DY-uh-beh-TAH-luh-jist): a
doctor who specializes in treating people who have diabetes.
Diabinese:
see chlorpropamide.
diagnosis
(DY-ug-NO-sis): the
determination of a disease from its signs and symptoms.
dialysis
(dy-AL-ih-sis): the process of cleaning wastes
from the blood artificially. This job is normally done
by the kidneys. If the kidneys fail, the
blood must be cleaned artificially with special equipment.
The two major forms of dialysis are hemodialysis and peritoneal
dialysis.
| • |
hemodialysis (HE-mo-dy-AL-ih-sis):
the use of a machine to clean wastes from the blood
after the kidneys have failed. The blood travels
through tubes to a dialyzer (DY-uh-LY-zur), a machine
that removes wastes and extra fluid. The cleaned
blood then goes back into the body. |
| • |
peritoneal
(PEH-rih-tuh-NEE-ul) dialysis: cleaning the
blood by using the lining of the abdomen as a filter.
A cleansing solution called dialysate (dy-AL-ih-sate)
is infused from a bag into the abdomen. Fluids and
wastes flow through the lining of the belly and
remain "trapped" in the dialysate. The
dialysate is then drained from the belly, removing
the extra fluids and wastes from the body. |
dietitian
(DY-eh-TIH-shun): a health care professional
who advises people about meal planning, weight control,
and diabetes management. A registered dietitian (RD) has
more training.
dilated
(DY-lay-ted) eye exam: a test done by an eye
care specialist in which the pupil (the black center)
of the eye is temporarily enlarged with eyedrops to allow
the specialist to see the inside of the eye more easily.
DKA:
see diabetic ketoacidosis.
D-phenylalanine
(dee-fen-nel-AL-ah-neen) derivative: a
class of oral medicine for type 2
diabetes that lowers blood
glucose levels by helping the pancreas
make more insulin right
after meals. (Generic name: nateglinide.)
DPP:
see Diabetes Prevention
Program.
Dupuytren's
(doo-PWEE-trenz) contracture (kon-TRACK-chur):
a condition associated with diabetes in which the
fingers and the palm of the hand thicken and shorten,
causing the fingers to curve inward.
Dymelor:
see acetohexamide.
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to Top
edema
(eh-DEE-muh):
swelling caused by excess fluid in the body.
electromyography
(ee-LEK-troh-my-AH-gruh-fee) (EMG): a test
used to detect nerve function. It measures the electrical
activity generated by muscles.
EMG:
see electromyography.
endocrine
(EN-doh-krin) gland: group of specialized
cells that release hormones into the blood.
For example, the islets
in the pancreas, which secrete insulin,
are endocrine glands.
endocrinologist
(EN-doh-krih-NAH-luh-jist): a doctor who
treats people who have endocrine gland
problems such as diabetes.
end-stage
renal disease (ESRD): see
kidney failure.
enzyme
(EN-zime): protein
made by the body that brings about a chemical reaction,
for example, the enzymes produced by the gut to aid
digestion.
erectile
dysfunction: see
impotence.
euglycemia
(you-gly-SEEM-ee-uh): a
normal level of glucose in the blood.
exchange
lists: one
of several approaches for diabetes meal planning. Foods
are categorized into three groups based on their nutritional
content. Lists provide the serving sizes for carbohydrates,
meat and meat alternatives, and fats.
These lists allow for substitution for different groups
to keep the nutritional content fixed.
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fasting
blood glucose test: a
check of a person's blood glucose level
after the person has not eaten for 8 to 12 hours (usually
overnight). This test is used to diagnose pre-diabetes
and diabetes. It is also used to monitor people with diabetes.
fat:
1. One of the three main nutrients in food. Foods
that provide fat are butter, margarine, salad dressing,
oil, nuts, meat, poultry, fish, and some dairy products.
2. Excess calories are stored as body fat,
providing the body with a reserve supply of energy and
other functions.
50/50
insulin: premixed insulin that is 50
percent intermediate-acting (NPH) insulin
and 50 percent short-acting (regular) insulin.
fluorescein
(fluh-RESS-ee-in) angiography (an-gee-AH-grah-fee):
a test to examine blood vessels in the
eye; done by injecting dye into an arm vein
and then taking photos as the dye goes through the eye's
blood vessels.
fructosamine
(frook-TOH-sah-meen) test: measures the number
of blood glucose molecules
(MAH-leh-kyools) linked to protein
molecules in the blood. The test provides information
on the average blood glucose level
for the past 3 weeks.
fructose
(FROOK-tohss): a sugar that occurs
naturally in fruits and honey. Fructose has 4 calories
per gram.
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gangrene
(GANG-green): the
death of body tissue, most often caused by a lack of blood
flow and infection. It can lead to amputation.
gastroparesis
(gas-tro-puh-REE-sis): a
form of neuropathy that
affects the stomach. Digestion of food may be incomplete
or delayed, resulting in nausea, vomiting, or bloating,
making blood glucose control difficult.
gestational
(jes-TAY-shun-ul) diabetes mellitus (MELL-ih-tus) (GDM):
a type of diabetes mellitus
that develops only during pregnancy and usually disappears
upon delivery, but increases the risk that the mother
will develop diabetes later. GDM is managed with meal
planning, activity, and, in some cases, insulin.
gingivitis
(JIN-jih-VY-tis): a condition of the gums characterized
by inflammation and bleeding.
gland:
a group of cells that secrete substances. Endocrine
glands secrete hormones. Exocrine glands
secrete salt, enzymes, and water.
glargine
(GLAR-jeen) insulin: very-long-acting
insulin. On average, glargine insulin starts to
lower blood glucose levels within 1 hour
after injection and keeps working evenly
for 24 hours after injection.
glaucoma
(glaw-KOH-muh): an
increase in fluid pressure inside the eye that may lead
to loss of vision.
glimepiride
(gly-MEH-per-ide): an
oral medicine used to treat type 2
diabetes. It lowers blood glucose
by helping the pancreas make more insulin
and by helping the body better use the insulin it makes.
Belongs to the class of medicines called sulfonylureas.
(Brand name: Amaryl.)
glipizide
(GLIH-pih-zide): an
oral medicine used to treat type 2
diabetes. It lowers blood glucose
by helping the pancreas make more insulin
and by helping the body better use the insulin it makes.
Belongs to the class of medicines called sulfonylureas.
(Brand names: Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL.)
glomerular
(glo-MEHR-yoo-lur) filtration rate: measure
of the kidney's ability to filter
and remove waste products.
glomeruli
(glo-MEHR-yoo-lie): plural of glomerulus.
glomerulus
(glo-MEHR-yoo-lus): a
tiny set of looping blood vessels in the
kidney where the blood is filtered and waste
products are removed.
glucagon
(GLOO-kah-gahn): a
hormone produced by the alpha cells
in the pancreas. It raises blood glucose.
An injectable form of glucagon, available by prescription,
may be used to treat severe hypoglycemia.
Glucophage,
Glucophage XR: see metformin.
glucose:
one of the simplest forms of sugar.
glucose
tablets: chewable tablets made of pure glucose
used for treating hypoglycemia.
glucose
tolerance test: see
oral glucose tolerance test.
Glucotrol,
Glucotrol XL: see
glipizide.
Glucovance:
an oral medicine used to treat type
2 diabetes. It is a combination of glyburide
and metformin.
glyburide
(GLY-buh-ride): an
oral medicine used to treat type 2
diabetes. It lowers blood glucose
by helping the pancreas make more insulin
and by helping the body better use the insulin it makes.
Belongs to the class of medicines called sulfonylureas.
(Brand names: DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase; ingredient
in Glucovance.)
glycemic
(gly-SEE-mik) index: a ranking of carbohydrate-containing
foods, based on the food's effect on blood glucose
compared with a standard reference food.
glycogen
(GLY-koh-jen): the
form of glucose found in the liver
and muscles.
glycosuria
(gly-koh-SOOR-ee-ah): the presence of glucose
in the urine.
glycosylated
hemoglobin: see
A1C.
Glynase
PresTab: see glyburide.
Glyset:
see miglitol.
gram:
a unit of weight in the metric system. An ounce equals
28 grams. In some meal plans for people
with diabetes, the suggested amounts of food are given
in grams.
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HDL
cholesterol (kuh-LESS-tuh-rawl): stands
for high-density-lipoprotein (LIP-oh-PRO-teen) cholesterol:
a fat found in the blood that takes extra
cholesterol from the
blood to the liver for removal. Sometimes
called "good" cholesterol.
hemodialysis:
see dialysis.
hemoglobin
A1C test: see
A1C.
heredity:
the passing of a trait from parent to child.
HHNS:
see hyperosmolar hyperglycemic
nonketotic syndrome.
high
blood glucose: see hyperglycemia.
high
blood pressure: see hypertension.
high-density
lipoprotein cholesterol: see HDL
cholesterol.
HLA:
see human leukocyte antigens.
home
glucose monitor: see blood
glucose meter.
honeymoon
phase: temporary
remission of hyperglycemia
that occurs in some people newly diagnosed with type
1 diabetes, when some insulin
secretion resumes for a short time, usually a few months,
before stopping again.
hormone:
a chemical produced in one part of the body and
released into the blood to trigger or regulate particular
functions of the body. For example, insulin
is a hormone made in the pancreas that
tells other cells when to use glucose
for energy. Synthetic hormones, made for use as medicines,
can be the same or different from those made in the
body.
human
leukocyte antigens (HLA): proteins
located on the surface of the cell that help the immune system identify the cell either as one belonging
to the body or as one from outside the body. Some patterns
of these proteins may mean increased risk of developing
type 1 diabetes.
hyperglycemia
(HY-per-gly-SEE-mee-uh):excessive
blood glucose. Fasting hyperglycemia is
blood glucose above a desirable level after a person
has fasted for at least 8 hours. Postprandial hyperglycemia
is blood glucose above a desirable level 1 to 2 hours
after a person has eaten.
hyperinsulinemia
(HY-per-IN-suh-lih-NEE-mee-uh): a condition
in which the level of insulin in the blood
is higher than normal. Caused by overproduction of insulin
by the body. Related to insulin resistance.
hyperlipidemia
(HY-per-li-pih-DEE-mee-uh): higher
than normal fat and cholesterol
levels in the blood.
hyperosmolar
(HY-per-oz-MOH-lur) hyperglycemic (HY-per-gly-SEE-mik)
nonketotic (non-kee-TAH-tik) syndrome (HHNS):
an emergency condition in which one's blood glucose level is very high and ketones
are not present in the blood or urine.
If HHNS is not treated, it can lead to coma
or death.
hypertension
(HY-per-TEN-shun): a condition present when
blood flows through the blood vessels
with a force greater than normal. Also called high blood pressure. Hypertension can strain the heart,
damage blood vessels, and increase the risk of heart
attack, stroke, kidney problems,
and death.
hypoglycemia
(hy-po-gly-SEE-mee-uh): a condition that
occurs when one's blood glucose is lower
than normal, usually less than 70 mg/dL.
Signs include hunger, nervousness, shakiness, perspiration,
dizziness or light-headedness, sleepiness, and confusion.
If left untreated, hypoglycemia may lead to unconsciousness.
Hypoglycemia is treated by consuming a carbohydrate-rich
food such as a glucose tablet or juice.
It may also be treated with an injection
of glucagon if the person is unconscious
or unable to swallow. Also called an insulin reaction.
hypoglycemia
unawareness (un-uh-WARE-ness): a state in
which a person does not feel or recognize the symptoms
of hypoglycemia. People who have frequent
episodes of hypoglycemia may no longer experience the
warning signs of it.
hypotension
(hy-poh-TEN-shun): low blood pressure
or a sudden drop in blood pressure. Hypotension may
occur when a person rises quickly from a sitting or
reclining position, causing dizziness or fainting.
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