Diabetes Terminology - Medical terms for diabetes disease
Glossary of medical terminology used in treatment of diabetes
Definitions of diabetes terms
ACE inhibitor - Drug that lowers blood pressure.
Angiopathy - Blood vessel disease after having a long period of diabetes.
Antidiabetic agent - Substance used to lower glucose (sugar) level in blood.
Aspart insulin - Type of insulin that has fast impact in reducing blood sugar.
Beta cells - Cells that produce insulin.
Biosynthetic human insulin - Man-made insulin similar to human insulin.
Biphasic insulin - Intermediate to fast-acting insulin.
Bolus - Giving extra insulin with the expectation that blood sugar will go up.
Brittle diabetes - Labile, unstable diabetes that demonstrates ups and downs frequently.
Bronze diabetes - Hemocromatosis. Retention of excessive iron from food.
BUN - Blood Urea Nitrogen. Waste product of kidneys.
Carbohydrate - Starches and sugars that body converts into glucose. Body cannot do this conversion when insulin level is low.
Dawn phenomenon - Rise in blood glucose early in the morning.
Dehydration - Loss of body water due to high level of glucose in urine.
Dextrose - Glucose, the simple form of sugar.
Diabetes Mellitus - Body's inability to use its sugar.
Diabetogenic - Substance that causes diabetes.
Diuretic - Type of medicine that stimulates urination to eliminate excessive body water.
Euglycemia - Normal level of glucose (sugar).
Fructose - Sugar obtained from fruits and vegetables.
Galactose - Sugar in milk products and sugar beets.
Genetic - Hereditary, coming from genes.
Glucagon - Hormone that raises blood sugar.
Glycemic response - Effects of different foods on blood glucose.
Glycogen - Stored sugar in the body.
Hypoglycemia - Low level of blood sugar (glucose).
Injection - Release of fluid into the body by syringe or needle.
Insulin - Hormone produced by pancreas that converts body's glucose into energy.
Insulin antagonist - Substance that fights against effects of insulin.
Insulin shock - Instant and severe decrease in blood sugar.
Lactose - Sugar in milk and milk products such as cheese.
Lente insulin - Insulin having not instant but intermediate effect.
Obesity - Excessive body fat.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) - Testing to determine whether the person has diabetes.
Polydipsia - Thirst lasting long periods.
Secondary diabetes - Becoming diabetic due to another disease.
Sliding scale - Deciding on levels of insulin by observing levels of blood glucose and other factors.
Sucrose - Type of sugar that body needs to convert it to absorb.
Ultralente insulin - Type of insulin having long-lasting effects.
