Diabetes Terms & Definitions
Commonly used Diabetes-related Terms & Definitions:
The following glossary of diabetes terms provides the definitions of diabetic words
Terms are listed alphabetically, and only the meanings which pertain to diabetes are included.
The following glossary of diabetes terms provides the definitions of diabetic words
Terms are listed alphabetically, and only the meanings which pertain to diabetes are included.
Select word or term Alphabetically
A1C
A test that measures a person's average blood glucose level over the past 2 to 3 months.
Hemoglobin 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 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.
Acarbose Oral
Agent for diabetes that lowers blood glucose by blocking carbohydrate breakdown in the
intestine
ACE
(Angiotension Converting Enzyme) Inhibitor drug that lowers blood pressure but it is
especially useful when diabetes affects the kidneys.
Acetone
A chemical formed in the blood when the body uses fat instead of glucose (sugar) for energy.
If acetone forms, it usually means that the cells do not have enough insulin, or cannot use the
insulin that is in the blood, to use glucose for energy. Acetone passes through the body into
the urine. Someone with a lot of acetone in the body can have breath that smells fruity and is
called "acetone breath."
Acidosis
Too much acid in the body. For a person with diabetes, this can lead to diabetic
ketoacidosis.
Acute
Happens for a limited period of time; abrupt onset; sharp, severe. Opposite of chronic.
Adrenal Glands
Two organs that sit on top of the kidneys and make and release hormones such as adrenalin
(epinephrine). This and other hormones, including insulin, control the body's use of glucose
(sugar).
Adult-Onset Diabetes
Former term for type II or noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
AGEs
Stands for advanced glycosylation 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
A condition in which the urine has more than normal amounts of a protein called
albumin. Albuminuria may be a sign of nephropathy (kidney disease).
Alpha Cell
A type of cell in the pancreas (in areas called the islets of Langerhans). 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.
Amaryl Oral
an agent that lowers glucose by raising insulin levels.
Amino Acid
The building blocks of proteins; the main material of the body's cells. Insulin is made of 51
amino acids joined together
Amylin
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 type of neuropathy resulting in pain, weakness, and/or wasting in the muscles.
Anemia
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.
Angiography
Use of dye to photograph blood vessels to detect disease. Used in the eyes for diabetes.
Angiopathy
Disease of the blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries) that occurs when someone has
diabetes for a long time. There are two types of angiopathy: macroangiopathy and
microangiopathy. In macroangiopathy, fat and blood clots build up in the large blood vessels,
stick to the vessel walls, and block the flow of blood. In microangiopathy, the walls of the
smaller blood vessels become so thick and weak that they bleed, leak protein, and slow the
flow of blood through the body. Then the cells, for example, the ones in the center of the eye,
do not get enough bloodand may be damaged.
Animal Insulin
The original form of insulin derived from the pancreas of cows and pigs.
Antibodies
Proteins that the body makes to protect itself from foreign substances. In diabetes, the body
sometimes makes antibodies to work against pork or beef insulins because they are not
exactly the same as human insulin or because they have impurities. The antibodies can keep
the insulin from working well and may even cause the person with diabetes to have an allergic
or bad reaction to the beef or pork insulins.
Antidiabetic Agent
A substance that helps a person with diabetes control the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood
so that the body works as it should.
Antigens
Substances that cause an immune response in the body. The body "sees" the antigens as
harmful or foreign. To fight them, the body produces antibodies, which attack and try to
eliminate the antigens.
Arteriosclerosis
A group of diseases in which the walls of the arteries get thick and hard (hardening of the
arteries). In one type of arteriosclerosis, fat builds up inside the walls and slows the blood
flow. These diseases often occur in people who have had diabetes for a long time.
Artery
A large blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to other parts of the body. Arteries are
thicker and have walls that are stronger and more elastic than the walls of veins.
Artificial Pancreas
A large machine used in hospitals that constantly measures glucose (sugar) in the blood and,
in response, releases the right amount of insulin.
Antioxidants
Chemicals that are added to foods containing fat to prevent oxygen from combining with the
fatty molecules. Oxidation may cause the fatty food to become rancid.
Asymptomatic
No symptoms; no clear sign of disease present.
Atherosclerosis
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.
One of many diseases in which fat builds up in the large- and medium-sized arteries. This
buildup of fat may slow down or stop blood flow. This disease can happen to people who have
had diabetes for a long time.
Autoimmune 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. Insulin-dependent diabetes is an
autoimmune disease because the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing
beta cells.
Autonomic Neuropathy
A disease of the nerves affecting mostly the internal organs such as the bladder muscles, the
cardiovascular system, the digestive tract, and the genital organs. These nerves are not
under a person's conscious control and function automatically. Also called visceral neuropathy
Avandia
Oral antidiabetic agent that lowers glucose by reducing insulin resistance
A test that measures a person's average blood glucose level over the past 2 to 3 months.
Hemoglobin 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 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.
Acarbose Oral
Agent for diabetes that lowers blood glucose by blocking carbohydrate breakdown in the
intestine
ACE
(Angiotension Converting Enzyme) Inhibitor drug that lowers blood pressure but it is
especially useful when diabetes affects the kidneys.
Acetone
A chemical formed in the blood when the body uses fat instead of glucose (sugar) for energy.
If acetone forms, it usually means that the cells do not have enough insulin, or cannot use the
insulin that is in the blood, to use glucose for energy. Acetone passes through the body into
the urine. Someone with a lot of acetone in the body can have breath that smells fruity and is
called "acetone breath."
Acidosis
Too much acid in the body. For a person with diabetes, this can lead to diabetic
ketoacidosis.
Acute
Happens for a limited period of time; abrupt onset; sharp, severe. Opposite of chronic.
Adrenal Glands
Two organs that sit on top of the kidneys and make and release hormones such as adrenalin
(epinephrine). This and other hormones, including insulin, control the body's use of glucose
(sugar).
Adult-Onset Diabetes
Former term for type II or noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
AGEs
Stands for advanced glycosylation 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
A condition in which the urine has more than normal amounts of a protein called
albumin. Albuminuria may be a sign of nephropathy (kidney disease).
Alpha Cell
A type of cell in the pancreas (in areas called the islets of Langerhans). 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.
Amaryl Oral
an agent that lowers glucose by raising insulin levels.
Amino Acid
The building blocks of proteins; the main material of the body's cells. Insulin is made of 51
amino acids joined together
Amylin
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 type of neuropathy resulting in pain, weakness, and/or wasting in the muscles.
Anemia
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.
Angiography
Use of dye to photograph blood vessels to detect disease. Used in the eyes for diabetes.
Angiopathy
Disease of the blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries) that occurs when someone has
diabetes for a long time. There are two types of angiopathy: macroangiopathy and
microangiopathy. In macroangiopathy, fat and blood clots build up in the large blood vessels,
stick to the vessel walls, and block the flow of blood. In microangiopathy, the walls of the
smaller blood vessels become so thick and weak that they bleed, leak protein, and slow the
flow of blood through the body. Then the cells, for example, the ones in the center of the eye,
do not get enough bloodand may be damaged.
Animal Insulin
The original form of insulin derived from the pancreas of cows and pigs.
Antibodies
Proteins that the body makes to protect itself from foreign substances. In diabetes, the body
sometimes makes antibodies to work against pork or beef insulins because they are not
exactly the same as human insulin or because they have impurities. The antibodies can keep
the insulin from working well and may even cause the person with diabetes to have an allergic
or bad reaction to the beef or pork insulins.
Antidiabetic Agent
A substance that helps a person with diabetes control the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood
so that the body works as it should.
Antigens
Substances that cause an immune response in the body. The body "sees" the antigens as
harmful or foreign. To fight them, the body produces antibodies, which attack and try to
eliminate the antigens.
Arteriosclerosis
A group of diseases in which the walls of the arteries get thick and hard (hardening of the
arteries). In one type of arteriosclerosis, fat builds up inside the walls and slows the blood
flow. These diseases often occur in people who have had diabetes for a long time.
Artery
A large blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to other parts of the body. Arteries are
thicker and have walls that are stronger and more elastic than the walls of veins.
Artificial Pancreas
A large machine used in hospitals that constantly measures glucose (sugar) in the blood and,
in response, releases the right amount of insulin.
Antioxidants
Chemicals that are added to foods containing fat to prevent oxygen from combining with the
fatty molecules. Oxidation may cause the fatty food to become rancid.
Asymptomatic
No symptoms; no clear sign of disease present.
Atherosclerosis
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.
One of many diseases in which fat builds up in the large- and medium-sized arteries. This
buildup of fat may slow down or stop blood flow. This disease can happen to people who have
had diabetes for a long time.
Autoimmune 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. Insulin-dependent diabetes is an
autoimmune disease because the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing
beta cells.
Autonomic Neuropathy
A disease of the nerves affecting mostly the internal organs such as the bladder muscles, the
cardiovascular system, the digestive tract, and the genital organs. These nerves are not
under a person's conscious control and function automatically. Also called visceral neuropathy
Avandia
Oral antidiabetic agent that lowers glucose by reducing insulin resistance