DIABETIC DICTIONARY Acetone   a chemical (see ketone bodies) formed when the body breaks down fat instead of glucose for energy. Levels rise and acetone "spills" into the urine and is exhaled in the breath producing a "fruity" smell Adrenal   a gland of the endocrine system that produces essential hormones including adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol Adult-Onset Diabetes   another term sometimes used for type 2 diabetes Albuminuria   occurs when a protein called albumin is found in the urine above a specified level - indicates potential kidney damage Alpha Cells   cells in the pancreas (the area called the islets of the Langherans), that produce the hormone glucagon which in turn raises blood glucose(sugar)levels Angiopathy   a disease of the blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries) that occurs as a long-term complication of diabetes. Two types macroangiopathy and microangiopathy Antibodies   substances occurring naturally in the body that help fight infection Arteriosclerosis  thickening, hardening and narrowing of the arteries Artheriosclerosis   see Arteriosclerosis Artery   a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart Aspartame   a low calorie synthetic sweetener Asymptomatic   no symptoms or sign of disease present Background Retinopathy   an early stage of diabetic retinopathy that usually does not impair vision - also referred to as "nonproliferative retinopathy" Beta Cells   the insulin producing cells of the pancreas Blood Pressure   is the force of the blood on the walls of arteries. Two levels of blood pressure are measured - the higher, or systolic, pressure, occurs each time the heart pushes blood into the vessels, and the lower, or diastolic, pressure, occurs when the heart rests. In a blood pressure reading of 120/80, 120 is the systolic pressure and 80 is the diastolic pressure. High blood pressure can lead to health problems such as heart attacks and strokes Brittle Diabetes   phrase 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 Callus   a hardened or thickened part of the skin caused by pressing or rubbing Calorie   a measure of the energy value of foods (now replaced by kilojoule: 1 calorie = 4.2 kilojoules) Candida   a yeast like fungus infection often affecting the female genital area Capillary   smallest of the body's blood vessels Carbohydrate   foods which contain sugars and starches Cardiovascular   relating to the heart and blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries) - the circulatory system Cataract   clouding of the lens of the eye Cell  the microscopic unit that forms the basis of all living things Chemical Diabetes   a term no longer used - see impaired glucose tolerance Cholesterol   a steroid produced by the human body, which acts as the precursor for all steroid hormones.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 Claudication   pain in the calf muscles occurring on exercise and disappearing with rest. Caused by decreased blood supply Coma   loss of consciousness from any cause. In diabetes may result from either very high or very low blood glucose levels Creatinine   a waste product normally removed by the kidneys. The amount in blood and urine can show whether the kidney is functioning properly Cyclamate  a low calorie artificial sweetener Cystitis  an inflammation of the urinary bladder Dawn Phenomenon  a sudden rise in blood glucose levels in the early morning hours. This sometimes occurs in people with type 1 diabetes and rarely in people with type 2 diabetes Dehydrated   great loss of water or fluid from the body. A very high level of glucose (sugar) in the urine causes loss of a great deal of water, and the person becomes very thirsty Dextrose   see glucose Diabetes Insipidus  a disease of the pituitary gland or kidney, but not diabetes mellitus. So-called 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 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 Diabetic Ketoacidosis   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. 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 Dialysis   artificial removal of waste products from the blood when the kidneys fail Digestion   breaking down food in the stomach and intestines Electrocardiograph (ECG)   the recording of the electrical activity of the heart Endocrine Glands   glands that produce chemicals (hormones) which affect other body cells Enzyme   special type of protein. Enzymes help the body's chemistry work better and more quickly 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 Exchanges   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 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 Fat Atrophy   hollows (atrophy) or lumps (hypertrophy) that occur at sites of repeated insulin injection Fibre   food substances found in cereals, fruits and vegetables that are not digested but help the function of the intestines Fluorescein   a harmless yellow coloured dye that is used to outline the vessels of the eye Fructosamine  a glycated protein like glycated haemoglobin that measures glucose control over the preceding 2-3 weeks Fructose   a sugar found in fruits Gangrene   death of body tissue usually caused by lack of blood supply Gestational   referring to the period of pregnancy from conception to birth Glomerulus   a tiny tuft of blood vessels that is part of the functional unit of the kidney Glucagon  a hormone produced in the pancreas that increases blood glucose Glucose   a simple sugar found in the blood. It is the body's main source of energy; also known as dextrose Glucose Tolerance Test   a diagnostic test for diabetes involving a drink of glucose (after an overnight fast) followed by a series of blood glucose estimations over 2 hours Glycated Haemoglobin  haemoglobin with glucose and other sugars chemically bound to it - also referred to as glycosylated haemoglobin. Haemoglobin A1c is a specific component of glycated haemoglobin Glycosuria  the presence of glucose in the urine Haemoglobin   the red coloured iron protein that carries oxygen in red cells HLA   human leucocyte antigens which are natural markers on white cells much the same as blood groups on red cells Hormone   a chemical substance produced by endocrine glands which causes specific effects on other cells Hyperglycaemia   blood glucose higher than normal 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   high blood pressure Hypoglycaemia   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 Hypertrophy   see Fat Atrophy 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 Impotence   the inability in males to start,sustain or complete the act of sexual intercourse Insulin   a hormone produced by the pancreas that lowers blood glucose Insulin-Dependent Diabetes   see type 1 diabetes IDDM   see type 1 diabetes 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 Intramuscular   administration of a medication through a needle into the muscles Intravenous   administration of a medication through a needle into a vein Islet Cells (of Langerhans)   clusters of cells in the pancreas which include the beta (insulin producing) and alpha (glucagon producing) cells Juvenile Onset Diabetes   see type 1 diabetes Ketones  chemical substances from the breakdown of fat which can be dangerous in large amounts Ketonuria   warns of ketoacidosis Ketoacidosis  uncontrolled blood glucose and ketone levels that cause dehydration, concentration of body fluids, build up of acids (acidosis) and coma (see diabetic ketoacidosis) Lactic Acidosis   a serious condition caused by the build up of lactic acid which is produced from glucose when there is not enough oxygen. Similar effects as ketoacidosis Lactose   a sugar found in milk Laser   an intense narrow beam of light which can be used to heal damaged areas in the body (e.g. blood vessels in the eye) Macrovascular  referring to the large blood vessels Maturity Onset Diabetes   see Type 2 diabetes Metabolism   the physical and chemical changes occurring in the body Microalbuminuria   leakage of small amounts of protein (albumin) into the urine. An early warning of kidney damage Microvascular   referring to the small blood vessels Millimole (mmol)   a measurement of the concentration of chemicals in the body Monila  see Candida Nephropathy   disease of the kidneys Neuropathy  disease of the nerves Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes   see type 2 diabetes NIDDM  see type 2 diabetes Obesity  the condition of severe overweight Oral Hypoglycaemic Drug   medications taken by mouth that stimulate the release or improve the action of insulin Pancreas   an organ behind the lower part of the stomach that is about the size of a hand. It makes insulin so that the body can use glucose (sugar) for energy. It also makes enzymes that help the body digest food. Spread all over the pancreas are areas called the islets of Langerhans. The cells in these areas each have a special purpose. The alpha cells make glucagon, which raises the level of glucose in the blood; the beta cells make insulin; the delta cells make somatostatin Photocoagulation   using a special strong beam of light (laser) to seal off bleeding blood vessels such as in the eye. The laser can also burn away blood vessels that should not have grown in the eye. This is the main treatment for diabetic retinopathy Polydipsia   a great thirst that lasts for long periods of time; a sign of diabetes Polyphagia   great hunger; a sign of diabetes. People with this great hunger often lose weight Polyuria   the passage of large amounts of urine Portions   see exchanges Prandial   referring to meals e.g. pre-prandial: before meals; post-prandial: after meals Proteinuria   too much protein in the urine. This may be a sign of kidney damage Pruritus   itching Renal   a term that means having something to do with the kidneys Renal Threshold   the blood glucose level above which glucose spills into the urine Retinopathy   damage to the retina of the eye Saccharin   a low calorie artificial sweetener Somogyi Effect   a rebound effect of low followed by high blood glucose caused by too much insulin Sorbitol   a sugar used to sweeten foods Subcutaneous  underneath the skin Sucrose   a form of sugar that the body must break down into a more simple form before the blood can absorb it and take it to the cells Sugars   simple carbohydrates which are sweet and occur widely in nature e.g. fructose, glucose,lactose, sucrose Thrush   see Candida Thyroid   an endocrine gland in the base of the neck producing hormones controlling the body's metabolism Triglyceride   a type of fat found in the blood and other parts of the body Type 1 Diabetes   where little or no insulin is made, usually occurring under the age of 30 and requiring insulin injections for life. Also known as insulin dependent and juvenile onset diabetes Type 2 Diabetes   insulin is present but doesn't work adequately. Usually occurs over the age of 30 and is controlled by diet and medication or diet and insulin. Also known as non insulin dependent and maturity onset diabetes Ulcer   a break in the skin; a deep sore. People with diabetes may get ulcers from minor scrapes on the feet or legs, from cuts that heal slowly, or from the rubbing of shoes that do not fit well. Ulcers can become infected Ultralente Insulin   a type of insulin that is long acting Unit   the basic measure of insulin. U-100 insulin means 100 units of insulin per milliliter (mL) or cubic centimeter (cc) of solution Uraemia   build up of poisons because of kidney failure Urine Testing   checking urine to see if it contains glucose (sugar) and ketones. Special strips of paper or tablets (called reagents) are put into a small amount of urine or urine plus water. Changes in the color of the strip show the amount of glucose or ketones in the urine. Urine testing is the only way to check for the presence of ketones, a sign of serious illness Vein   a blood vessel that carries blood to the heart Xylitol   a sweetener found in plants and used as a substitute for sugar