Robert S. Dinsmoor

Metabolic surgery is an umbrella term for a number of surgical procedures that improve blood glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes who are obese…

Diabetic dermopathy (sometimes called “shin spots”) typically appears as dull red or brown scaly patches on the shins that don’t sting or itch…

The breakdown of glycogen, the stored form of energy found in muscle and liver tissue, into glucose, which the body can readily use…

A small mesh tube used to treat narrow or weak coronary arteries. People with diabetes are especially prone to atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque, a waxy substance, builds up inside the arteries…

A doctor who specializes in using medical imaging to diagnose and treat diseases throughout the body…

A large clinical study designed to determine whether various interventions could reduce heart risk in people with Type 2 diabetes…

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection, commonly known as impotence…

The treatment of discomfort, symptoms, and psychological stress associated with serious illness. Some people confuse palliative care with end-of-life care…

Pancreatogenic diabetes, also known as Type 3C diabetes, results from pancreatic disease (such as chronic pancreatitis) or surgery on the pancreas…

The study of genetic variations that can affect how an individual responds to specific drugs, in terms of both effectiveness and adverse events…

A heart attack that does not produce the hallmark symptoms of chest pain and difficulty breathing. It is estimated that as many as 4 million Americans have had silent heart attacks…

A relatively new laboratory test that indicates whether someone has had high blood glucose levels over the previous one to two weeks…

A substance found naturally in the mitochondria, the cells’ powerhouses. Coenzyme Q10 is also a powerful antioxidant that is sometimes taken in supplement form to treat a variety of ills…

Enlarged veins that typically appear as cords bulging through the skin. They are commonly seen on the backs of the calves or the insides of the thighs and may be dark purple or blue in color…

The DASH diet is a diet that has been scientifically proven to reduce blood pressure. This eating plan is the product of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) study…

Ginseng is an herbal folk remedy for various ailments that is made from several species of plants in the genus Panax…

A medical condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol or, in some cases, aldosterone.

Eight specific sugars, or saccharides, found naturally in certain plants. These sugars include fucose, galactose, glucose, mannose, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylneuraminic acid, and xylose, which purportedly help form important compounds called glycoproteins in the body…

A class of lipid-lowering medicines that helps lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol levels…

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, and…

Carbohydrates that have been chemically transformed into alcohols. Sugar alcohols are less sweet and less caloric than table sugar…

A blood clot that forms deep within the body. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) most commonly occurs in the lower leg, but may also develop in other parts of the body…

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…

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…

An exaggerated rise in blood sugar following a meal…

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 for…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Diabetic bladder refers to bladder problems caused by diabetic autonomic neuropathy…

The basal rate is the rate at which an insulin pump infuses small, “background” doses of short-acting insulin….

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…

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 States…

The cells located within the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas that secrete insulin…

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…

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 of…

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 the…

Coma is a state of profound unconsciousness. In people with diabetes, two conditions associated with very high blood glucose may cause coma…

Ameal-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…