Diabetes Definitions :: Diabetes Self-Management

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Diabetes Definitions are brief articles that explain what different medical terms mean and how they fit into the context of diabetes care. You'll notice as you read other articles in the Articles section that certain words are highlighted. If you click on one of these words, you'll wind up at that word's Definition. Listed below are all the Diabetes Definitions available on our site. You can use this page as your own diabetes dictionary as you look at other resources on diabetes—add it your Web browser's list of bookmarks for quick reference. Check back often, because the list will keep growing.

Acanthosis Nigricans

A condition characterized by discolored patches in the skin folds of the armpits, neck, or groin, ranging from tan to dark brown. Acanthosis nigricans is associated with hyperinsulinemia (a higher-than-normal level of insulin in the blood), which...

ACE Inhibitors

A class of medicine usually used to treat high blood pressure. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors also appear to protect people with diabetes from diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease). People with diabetes are especially prone to...

Albumin

One of a group of simple proteins widely distributed in animals and plants. Albumin is found in such substances as blood, milk, and egg whites. In humans it has special relevance to people with diabetes because its presence in urine is a marker of...

Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors

A class of diabetes drugs sometimes called “starch blockers” that blocks the action of enzymes that normally begin to break down certain carbohydrates in the upper part of the small intestine. Different classes of diabetes medicines work in...

Alternate-Site Testing

Blood glucose self-monitoring using a blood sample from somewhere other than the fingertips, namely the palm, upper arm, forearm, abdomen, calf, or thigh. The fingertips have traditionally been used for blood glucose self-monitoring because they’re...

Amino Acids

The basic structural units, or building blocks, of protein. The body uses protein to build up and repair tissue. Protein is found in muscles, organs, bones, and skin and in many of the body's hormones, or chemical messengers. There are about 20 amino...

Anemia

A decrease in the number of red blood cells or in the amount of hemoglobin (an oxygen-carrying protein) in these cells that may cause such symptoms as weakness, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, headache, or insomnia. Anemia, in turn, may...

Angina

Pain or tightness in the chest, a symptom of coronary heart disease (CHD). People with diabetes are at increased risk for CHD, a condition in which the heart muscle does not get a sufficient supply of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to meet its needs...

Antibodies

Proteins made by white blood cells in response to bacteria, viruses, and other substances. Antibodies and white blood cells are both components of the body's immune system, which protects it from infections and diseases. Specific antibodies are...

Antidepressants

Drugs used to treat clinical depression, a medical condition characterized by long-standing feelings of sadness, apathy, and hopelessness. People with diabetes are especially prone to depression: By some estimates, 15% to 30% of people with diabetes...

Antiplatelet Drugs

Drugs that reduce the formation or inhibit the action of chemicals that promote the activation and aggregation of platelets, blood components important for the clotting of blood. Although clotting is an important step in wound healing, inappropriate...

Atherosclerosis

A disease in which arteries become dangerously narrowed by lipid deposits. People with diabetes are at increased risk for atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis begins when the endothelium, the inner lining of the arteries that has direct contact with...

Autoimmunity

A condition in which the body's immune system identifies the body's own tissues as "foreign" rather than self. The purpose of the body's immune system is to fight off infections, such as those caused by viruses and bacteria. Some degree of autoimmunity...

Basal Rate

The rate at which an insulin pump infuses small, “background” doses of short-acting insulin. Over a 24-hour period, the basal flow of insulin accounts for about 50% of a person’s total daily insulin requirement. However, this may vary depending on...

Beta Cells

The cells located within the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas that secrete insulin. The process leading to Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes appears to start when the immune system recognizes and attacks proteins on the surface of the beta cells...

Beta-Cell Regeneration

A natural process by which the beta cells of the pancreas, which make and secrete insulin, create new beta cells. Diabetes researchers are keenly interested in exploiting the mechanisms behind this phenomenon to some day prevent, treat, or cure Type...

Biofeedback

A technique in which various monitoring devices are used to help a person learn to voluntarily alter normally involuntary body functions such as brain activity, blood pressure, muscle tension, or heart rate. Biofeedback has been shown to be helpful...

Body-Mass Index

A measure of a person's weight in relation to his or her height—a way to gauge whether a person needs to lose weight. A person's BMI is expressed as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m2). To determine your body-mass...

C-Reactive Protein

A blood marker for inflammation, which is thought to play a role in many chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Scientific studies have shown not only that a high level of C-reactive protein (CRP) is a risk factor for heart...

C.D.E.

Abbreviation for Certified Diabetes Educator, a title ensuring that a given health professional has received special training in diabetes treatment and education. To qualify as a Certified Diabetes Educator, or C.D.E., a health professional must have...

Capsaicin

A chemical that may help relieve chronic pain. Capsaicin is found in capsicum peppers, which include cayenne peppers, red peppers, African chilies, and tabasco peppers. It is capsaicin that gives these chili peppers their bite. Capsaicin appears...

Carbohydrate Counting

A meal-planning method that involves keeping the total carbohydrate intake at each meal consistent from day to day, with the aim of improving overall blood glucose control. Carbohydrate counting has become increasingly popular since the American...

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

An emergency technique used when a person’s heart has stopped beating or the person has stopped breathing, or both. The standard procedure involves pumping on the victim’s chest to stimulate the heart and exhaling air into his or her lungs to keep the...

Cataract

A cloudy lens in the eye that may cause vision problems. The lens is the part of the eye that focuses light on the retina, which in turn translates the light into the impulses transmitted to the brain. Cataract is a painless condition. Some signs...

Charcot Joint

A breakdown of the skeletal architecture of a joint. In people with diabetes, this condition most commonly affects the foot. Especially susceptible to Charcot joint are people with diabetes who have severe peripheral nerve damage. Because they have...

Chiropractic

An alternative therapy that seeks to improve nerve transmission through mechanical manipulation of the spinal column. A body of scientific evidence shows that chiropractic can be an effective treatment for some types of low back pain. For example, a...

Cholesterol

A waxy substance found in all of the body's cells. The body uses cholesterol for a number of important functions, such as manufacturing certain hormones. As most people know, however, too much cholesterol in the blood can be damaging to the heart and...

Colonoscopy

A procedure in which a doctor looks inside the entire colon (large intestine) using a special scope. Colonoscopy is used to diagnose the causes of unexplained changes in bowel habits and to screen for abnormal tissue. It can detect the early signs of...

Coma

A state of profound unconsciousness from which a person cannot be aroused. It may be the result of trauma, a brain tumor, loss of blood supply to the brain (as from cerebrovascular disease), a toxic metabolic condition, or encephalitis (brain...

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

A type of heart disease in which the heart no longer pumps sufficient blood to meet the body’s needs. Diabetes is a risk factor for heart failure, but a number of measures, including tight blood glucose control, can greatly reduce this risk. The...

Contraindication

A symptom, condition, or trait that interferes with a given drug or treatment in a dangerous or counterproductive way. Most drugs and medical treatments have contraindications. For example, if drug A interacts with drug B, the labeling for drug A will...

Counterregulatory Hormones

Hormones that work against the action of insulin, raising blood glucose levels in response to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). The main counterregulatory hormones are glucagon, epinephrine (also known as adrenaline), cortisol, and growth...

Dawn Phenomenon

Very high blood glucose in the early morning due to the release of certain hormones in the middle of the night. The body makes certain hormones called counterregulatory hormones, which work against the action of insulin. These hormones, which include...

Deep Vein Thrombosis

A blood clot that forms in a vein deep within the body, typically a vein in the leg. There are a number of risk factors for deep vein thrombosis, including certain inherited clotting disorders, cancer and its treatment, varicose veins, and being...

Diabetes

A disease characterized by high blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. In Type 2 diabetes, there are two...

Diabetes Control and Complications Trial

A landmark study that proved that tight blood glucose control can substantially reduce the risk of developing the devastating medical complications of diabetes. At least as early as the 1930's, researchers hotly debated what role blood glucose levels...

Diabetic Bladder

A term referring to bladder problems caused by diabetic autonomic neuropathy. The bladder’s function is to store the urine produced by the kidneys. Ordinarily, once urine is collected in the bladder, the pressure on the inner wall of the bladder is...

Dialysis

The process of cleaning and filtering the blood, ridding the body of harmful waste products and extra salts and fluids. It is used in people with kidney failure, including those with advanced diabetic nephropathy. The major role of the kidneys is to...

Dietary Fiber

The indigestible portion of fruits, vegetables, and grains. There are two main types of dietary fiber: soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Both are believed to be important for maintaining good health. Soluble fiber is found in oats and oat bran...

Diuretic

A type of drug that increases the amount of water and salt expelled in the urine. Commonly called water pills, diuretics are often used to treat high blood pressure. As excess water and salt are removed from the body, the heart pumps less blood, and...

Edema

Abnormal accumulation of fluid in various body tissues, causing swelling. The swelling may affect any of a number of body sites, such as the legs, ankles, and feet; the hands; the back or abdomen; and even the eyelids. Edema may be caused by a number of...

Ejection Fraction

The proportion of blood pushed out of one of the heart’s two pumping chambers, the left and right ventricles, when it contracts. The ejection fraction, commonly expressed as a percentage, indicates how strong the ventricles are—that is, how well they...

Epinephrine

The "fight or flight" hormone that gives us a quick boost of extra energy to cope with danger—including the danger of low blood sugar. When blood sugar levels drop too low, the adrenal glands secrete epinephrine (also called adrenaline), causing...

Fast-Acting Carbohydrate

A form of carbohydrate that will raise blood glucose levels relatively quickly when ingested. The term "fast-acting carbohydrate" is generally used in discussions of treating hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. However, as research accumulates on the...

Fasting Plasma Glucose Test

A test that screens for diabetes by measuring the level of glucose in a person's blood plasma after a period of fasting (not eating). The fasting plasma glucose test is given to nonpregnant adults who are at high risk for diabetes. According to the...

Fat Replacers

Substances used by food manufacturers to replace fat in various food products, providing the overall sensation of dietary fat (such as "mouth feel") without being metabolized as fat by the body. There are three basic types of fat replacers...

Fatty Liver

A condition in which fat accumulates in the cells of the liver. Fatty liver is usually associated with heavy alcohol use, excessive weight gain, or diabetes. It is most commonly found on routine blood screening, since it tends to cause minor elevations...

Female Sexual Dysfunction

A blanket term to describe several sexual disorders affecting women, including lack of desire, difficulty becoming sexually aroused, difficulty reaching orgasm, and painful intercourse. By some estimates, anywhere from 19% to 50% of women have some...

Foot Ulcer

A break in the skin of the foot caused by infection or injury. Because of diabetes-related vascular and nerve disease, such as poor blood circulation and neuropathy, people with diabetes can lose sensation in their feet and thus fail to notice...

Gastric Bypass Surgery

Surgery that makes the stomach smaller and allows food to bypass part of the small intestine, with the goal of promoting weight loss. Gastric bypass surgery is typically considered only in extremely obese individuals (those with a body-mass index [BMI...

Gastroparesis

A condition associated with diabetes, in which the emptying of the stomach is slowed. Normally, the digestion of food is facilitated by steady, rhythmic contractions of the stomach muscles that break down food into smaller particles. These muscle...

GERD

Acronym for gastroesophageal reflux disease, a chronic condition in which the contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus, causing a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. GERD is somewhat more common in people with diabetes. The esophagus...

Gestational Diabetes

A type of diabetes first diagnosed during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnancies, resulting in roughly 135,000 cases in the United States each year. Gestational diabetes usually develops during the second or...

Glaucoma

A disease of the eye that can lead to vision loss due to damage to the retina and optic nerve. The risk of developing glaucoma increases with age. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop glaucoma as others. The eye is neither hollow...

GLP-1 Analogs

Manmade, structurally altered chemical versions of glucagon-like peptide-1 (or GLP-1), which may someday play a role in treating both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 is made in the intestine and is released in response to meals. It stimulates...

Glucagon

A counterregulatory hormone that works against the action of insulin. Most people with diabetes know that insulin is secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas. What many don't know is that other cells in the pancreas called alpha cells secrete the...

Glycogen

The chief storage form of carbohydrate in animals (including humans). Glycogen is stored mainly in the body's liver and muscle tissue. When blood glucose levels are high, excess glucose normally is stored as glycogen. When blood glucose levels drop...

HbA1c

Shorthand for hemoglobin A1c or glycosylated hemoglobin, an indicator of blood glucose control over the previous two to three months. Hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells, carries oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body. Some of...

Hemochromatosis

A common inherited disorder in which the body absorbs and stores abnormally high amounts of iron, causing damage to certain organs. Hemochromatosis tends to coexist with diabetes, for reasons that aren’t completely clear. Hereditary hemochromatosis...

Homeopathy

An alternative therapy based on the theory that "like cures like." Homeopathy was developed in the late eighteenth century by a German doctor named Samuel Hahnemann. Hahnemann believed that if a large amount of a particular drug or substance caused...

Hyperlipidemia

A blanket term for abnormally high levels of lipids, such as cholesterol, in the bloodstream. For years, it has been known that high levels of cholesterol in the blood can raise a person's risk of developing heart disease. Cholesterol...

Hypnotherapy

Therapy using hypnosis, a state of mind in which people are extremely open to suggestion. Hypnosis has been used with at least some success in helping people control pain, curb unwanted behaviors, and treat medical conditions thought to be affected by...

Hypoglycemia

Blood sugar too low to fuel the body's activities. The normal range for blood sugar is about 60 mg/dl (milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood) to 120 mg/dl, depending on when a person last ate. If a person has not eaten for many hours, blood...

Hypoglycemia Unawareness

A condition in which a person with diabetes does not experience the usual early warning symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Ordinarily, when a person's blood sugar level drops, the body tries to raise it by releasing the...

Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator

A device, implanted in the body, that detects potentially fatal abnormal heart rhythms and delivers an electric shock to the heart to restore normal rhythm. The electric impulse may be substantially stronger than the tiny signal used by pacemakers to...

Inflammation

The body’s protective response to infection and injury. When a sentinel white blood cell detects a foreign substance in the body, it sends out chemicals that make nearby blood vessels dilate (widen) and become more permeable. The widened blood vessels...

Injection Site Rotation

The systematic switching of insulin injections from one site to another. For years, doctors have emphasized the need for people with diabetes to rotate their injection sites rather than injecting into the same place each time. Injecting into the same...

Insulin

A hormone secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas to help move glucose from the blood into body cells for energy. People with Type 1 diabetes lose the ability to produce insulin and must inject it. Some people with Type 2 diabetes also need to inject...

Insulin Analog

A man-made substance resembling insulin in which the molecular structure has been altered for a more desirable effect. Insulin is a hormone, or chemical messenger that is released into the bloodstream to be transported throughout the body. Most...

Insulin Detemir

A new, long-acting insulin analog (modified, synthetic form of insulin) that acts in the bloodstream for up to 24 hours. Marketed under the brand name Levemir, detemir is approved for adults and children with Type 1 diabetes and for adults with Type...

Insulin Pump

A small, battery-powered pump designed to deliver insulin into the user's body 24 hours a day according to a preset program. An insulin pump, which is about the size of a beeper or pager, is composed of a reservoir for the insulin, a small battery, a...

Insulin Resistance

A condition in which the body needs extra insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Along with abnormal insulin secretion, it is a hallmark of Type 2 diabetes. Ordinarily, insulin prods the liver to decrease its production of glucose. It also...

Insulin Sensitivity Factor

The drop in blood glucose level, measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl), caused by each unit of insulin taken. Knowing their insulin sensitivity factor can help people with Type 1 diabetes to determine the dose of short-acting or rapid-acting...

Intermittent Claudication

Cramping, "on-again, off-again" leg pain brought on by walking. Intermittent claudication is a symptom of peripheral vascular disease, in which atherosclerosis clogs blood vessels throughout the body. Peripheral vascular disease is 20 times more common...

Ketones

By-products formed when the body breaks down fat for energy. When the body is starved of glucose or, as in the case of Type 1 diabetes, does not have enough insulin to use the glucose that is in the bloodstream, it begins breaking down fat reserves for...

Lactic Acidosis

The buildup of lactic acid in the bloodstream. This medical emergency most commonly results from oxygen deprivation in the body's tissues, impaired liver function, respiratory failure, or cardiovascular disease. It can also be caused by a class of oral...

Lancet

A pointed piece of surgical steel encased in plastic, used to puncture the skin on one's finger (or other body part) to get a blood sample. Other types of lancets are used for making small incisions, as in the draining of boils and abscesses. Lancets...

Lipid Profile

A blood test, or the results of a blood test, that measures levels of lipids, or fats, including cholesterol and triglycerides. Factors such as your age, sex, and genetics influence your lipid profile. Certain aspects of your lifestyle, including your...

Macular Degeneration

Breakdown of the light-sensitive cells in the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 55 in the United...

Macular Edema

Swelling of the central part of the retina of the eye, which can cause blurred vision. Macular edema is just one facet of diabetic retinopathy, or retinal disease. The retina is a thin, transparent membrane in the back of the eye that translates...

Metabolism

The sum of all the chemical processes in the body involved in creating and using energy to carry out vital functions such as digestion, growth, breathing, temperature regulation, and elimination of bodily wastes. Basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is...

Metformin

A popular oral drug for treating Type 2 diabetes. Metformin (brand name Glucophage) is a member of a class of drugs called biguanides that helps lower blood sugar levels by improving the way the body handles insulin—namely, by preventing the liver from...

Nephropathy

A complication of diabetes that damages the kidneys' ability to filter waste from the blood. Diabetic nephropathy is the single most common cause of kidney failure in the Western world. Nearly one-third of all people with Type 1 diabetes will...

Neuropathy

Damage to nerves. In people with diabetes, neuropathy is generally caused by high blood sugar levels, but there are other possible causes of neuropathy, such as a B vitamin deficiency, injury, some drugs, and cancer. Excess glucose from the blood can...

Nighttime Hypoglycemia

An episode of low blood glucose occurring at night. During sleep, the body's energy needs fall, and consequently the liver pumps out less glucose, the body's fuel. In people without diabetes, the pancreas responds to the liver's lowered glucose...

Nitric Oxide

A clear, colorless gas that performs a number of important functions in the body. It seems to play a role in several medical conditions, including septic shock, dementia, and impotence, and it may partially account for the high rate of heart disease...

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

A type of polyunsaturated fat believed to have multiple health benefits. Omega-3 fatty acids get their name from the structure of their molecules, in which the first of several double bonds occurs three carbon atoms away from the end of the carbon...

Ophthalmologist

A medical doctor specializing in diseases of the eye. People often get confused between opticians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists. An optician can fill prescriptions for corrective lenses but does not examine the eyes. An optometrist has a...

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)

A screening test for diabetes that involves testing an individual's plasma glucose level after he drinks a solution containing 75 grams of glucose. Currently, a person is diagnosed with diabetes if his plasma glucose level is 200 mg/dl or higher two...

Peripheral Vascular Disease

A condition in which the arteries in the legs, and sometimes the arms, are narrowed by fatty plaque buildup (atherosclerosis). Peripheral vascular disease is 20 times more common in people with diabetes than in the general population. Along with...

Placebo

A pill or preparation with no medicinal value, given either to please a patient or to help test a given therapy. Latin for "I shall be pleasing," a placebo is traditionally an inactive pill that a doctor prescribes to oblige a patient. Doctors have...

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

A metabolic disorder estimated to affect more than six million reproductive-age women in the United States. It is believed to raise a woman’s risk of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The syndrome can manifest itself in a variety of...

Postprandial Hyperglycemia

An exaggerated rise in blood sugar following a meal. In people who don’t have diabetes, the pancreas secretes some insulin all the time. It increases its output as blood glucose rises following meals. In people with Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas can be...

PPAR Agonists

A family of drugs that activate certain proteins in the body called peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). The PPAR agonists can help to improve blood glucose levels and levels of blood lipids (fats and cholesterol) and may also reduce...

Prediabetes

A condition in which blood glucose levels are elevated, but not yet within the diabetic range. Prediabetes is also known as impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). The new term was inaugurated by the U.S. Department of...

Pregabalin

A newly approved oral drug for treating neuropathic pain from diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Pregabalin is marketed by Pfizer under the brand name Lyrica. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is one manifestation of diabetic neuropathy, a form of nerve...

Pressure Sore

A sore, or ulcer, caused by prolonged pressure against the skin and underlying tissue. The pressure cuts the blood flow to the affected area; the resulting ulcer can be extremely painful, and if left untreated may lead to such serious consequences as...

Proteinuria

The presence of protein in the urine, an early sign of kidney disease. One of the major medical complications of diabetes is diabetic nephropathy, a type of kidney disease that develops slowly over the course of years. Diabetic nephropathy can lead to...

Renin

An enzyme released into the blood by cells of the kidney. Through a series of chemical reactions, renin converts angiotensinogen (a protein released into the blood by the liver) to angiotensin I. As blood passes through the lungs, angiotensin I is...

Resistant Starch

A type of starch that is resistant to (not easily broken down by) digestive enzymes, so it is absorbed much more slowly into the bloodstream than other starches. For this reason, resistant starch is used in some diabetes snack bars designed to improve...

Restless Legs Syndrome

A sleep disorder characterized by unpleasant creeping, crawling, tingling, or painful sensations in the legs during rest. It is believed to affect as many as 12 million Americans, and many more may be affected since the condition is...

Retinal Detachment

Separation of the retina from the layer of cells behind it. The retina is a light-sensitive layer of tissue lining the inside of the eye; it sends visual signals to the brain. Detachment of the retina may cause permanent blindness and should be...

Retinopathy

A disease of the retina, the light-sensitive membrane at the back of the eye, associated with diabetes. After having diabetes for 20 years, nearly all people with Type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of people with Type 2 diabetes develop...

Sleep Apnea

A sleep disorder in which breathing stops for 10 seconds or more during sleep, sometimes as often as 300 times a night. Research suggests that diabetes can cause—and be caused by—sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea are often unaware that they stop...

Somogyi Effect

The tendency of the body to react to extremely low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) by overcompensating, resulting in high blood sugar. The Somogyi effect, also known as the "rebound" effect, was named after Michael Somogyi, the researcher who first...

Statins

A class of cholesterol-lowering drugs, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Statins work by blocking the action of an enzyme that controls the production of cholesterol. By slowing down cholesterol production, they improve the liver’s ability to...

Stem Cells

Cells that have the ability to divide for indefinite periods and, under the right conditions, give rise to many different types of cells. Some scientists believe that stem cells are a promising avenue for curing a number of different diseases, including...

Stroke

Damage to brain tissue caused by a disruption in blood flow to the brain. Strokes can be fatal and can result in temporary or permanent disability. Common aftereffects of a stroke include paralysis, weakness, muscular contractions, loss of sensation...

Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Abrupt loss of heart function. Sudden cardiac arrest is often fatal. The victim of sudden cardiac death may or may not have diagnosed heart disease, but the most common cause of sudden cardiac death is coronary heart disease. According to the American...

Sugar Alcohols

Carbohydrates that have been chemically transformed into alcohols. Sugar alcohols are less sweet and less caloric than table sugar. Because they are absorbed into the bloodstream more slowly than sugar, sugar alcohols don't raise blood glucose levels as...

Sulfonylureas

A class of drugs used in treating Type 2 diabetes. The first line of treatment for Type 2 diabetes consists of dietary changes and exercise, which help people with diabetes lose weight, improve the way their bodies make and use insulin, and lower blood...

Syndrome X

A cluster of interrelated conditions that greatly increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Syndrome X is commonly characterized by insulin resistance, high blood pressure, obesity, abnormalities in blood levels of lipids...

Thiazolidinediones

A class of oral diabetes drugs, commonly nicknamed "glitazones." Unlike the traditional oral drugs called sulfonylureas, which lower blood glucose levels by making the pancreas secrete more insulin, the thiazolidinediones work by helping the body's...

Tight Control

A method of intensive diabetes self-management that involves keeping blood glucose levels as close as possible to normal without causing severe or frequent episodes of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), in the aim of preventing complications of diabetes...

Trans Fatty Acids

Fatty acids that are produced when food manufacturers hydrogenate fats and oils. This not only changes their texture, but also their effects in the body: In many ways, trans fatty acids resemble saturated fatty acids, and a diet high in trans fatty...

Transient Ischemic Attack

A temporary interruption of blood supply (and oxygen) to part of the brain, also known as a ministroke. The symptoms of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) are similar to those of a stroke, which include numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg...

Triglycerides

The main storage form of fat in the body. Most are found in fat tissue, but some circulate in the bloodstream to provide fuel for the body’s cells. The triglyceride molecule is composed of three fatty acid chains attached to a glycerol molecule. The...

Type 1.5 Diabetes

A form of diabetes sometimes called “double diabetes,” in which an adult has aspects of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Over the past three decades, diabetes researchers have gradually fine-tuned the classification of different underlying...

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