Diabetes: Explanations of the terms you may come across
Most people have some understanding of diabetes, but when you listen to people talk about it, you may feel as if it has a language of its own- here a a list of commom terms and what they mean
ANNUAL REVIEW
is an essential check of your health that everyone with diabetes should have once a year. It includes various blood tests and physical examinations and also offers an opportunity to chat with your diabetes healthcare team about your diabetes and any issues relating to it.
ATHEROMA
Breakdown of the walls of the arteries due to the formation of fatty plaques and scar tissue in them . This limits blood circulation.
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
A disease of the arteries in which fatty plaques develop on their inner walls with eventual obstruction of blood flow.
AUTOIMMUNE
Is where something goes wrong with the immune defence and the cells of your own body are attacked. This is seen in Type1 diabetes, as the insulin producing cells of the pancreas are destroyed by a process in the body known as "Autoimmunity" in which the bodys cells attack each other, leading to a loss of insulin production.
AUTOLYSIS
The destruction of tissues or cells brought about by the actions of their own enzymes
BETA CELLS
Are cells in the islets of your pancreas that produce insulin.
BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL
Is the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood.
BLOOD GLUCOSE METERS
Are electronic machines that your diabetes team and you can can use to test your current blood glucose level.
BLOOD GLUCOSE TEST STRIPS
Are the test strips used with a blood glucose meter. You insert a strip into a blood glucose meter, prick your finger and place the blood sample on the strip. the meter reads the strip and gives your current blood glucose level.
BLOOD PRESSURE
Is the amount of force exerted by your blood against the walls of your arteries.
BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)
Is an expression of adult weight in relation to height.
CALLUS
The composite mass of tissue that forms between bone ends when a fracture is healing. Callus is also the mass of tissue that can develop over pressure areas of the feet in people with diabetes who have ischaemia and/or neuropathy
CARBOHYDRATES
Comes from food that we digest. During digestion carbohydrates are broken down into glucose. They are the main source of energy in our diet and include all sugars and starches, ( e.g. pasta, bread, rice and potatoes)
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (CVD)
Refers to diseases of the heart and circulatory system including coronory heart disease (CHD) and stroke.
CHARCOT ARTHROPATHY
A damaged, swollen and deformed joint resulting from repeated minor injuries of which the patient is unaware because the nerves that normally register pain are not functioning.
CHOLESTEROL
Blood fats are present in certain foods and is also produced by your liver. There are two types of of cholesterol, HDL which is good and LDL, which is bad. Your Cholesterol profile should be checked regulary by your diabetes team to ensure levels are appropriate to you.
COELIAC DISEASE
Intolerance to gluten which is found in wheat,rye, barley and oats.
COMA
An unconscious state
DEXTROSE
Is pure glucose.
DIABETEIC KETOACIDOSIS (DKA)
This dangerous condition is caused by blood turning acidic from a high level of ketones being released into your blood. It occurs as a result of high blood sugars and too little insulin.
DIABETES MELLITUS
Is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly.
DIABETES SPECIALIST DIETITIANS
Can offer specialist advice on healthy eating and the impact of different foods on your diabetes control
DIABETES SPECIALIST NURSE (DSN)
Key to your care plan and are nurses specialising in the treatment of patients with diabetes, they are professionals
DIABETES TEAM
Consists of your family GP, practice nurse, diabetes specialist nurse, consultants, podiatrist, dietitians, and all healthcare professionals that help you manage your diabetes.
DIABETOLOGISTS
Are doctors specialising in diabetes
DIET
Is an important part of the management of your diabetes. You should eat a healthy, balanced diet that is low in saturated fat, salt & sugar but high in fruit and vegetables.
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION or Impotence
Is the inability to get/or keep an erection for sexual intercourse, in men with diabetes. This is because of poor blood supply to the penis and/or nerve damage caused by diabetes complications.
FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE
Is a blood glucose test taken before eating, usually in the morning and is used when diagnosing diabetes.
FRUCTOSAMINE
A blood test which reflects the average blood glucose levels over the previous 2-3 weeks
GANGRENE
Death and decay of part of the body due to deficiency or cessation of blood supply.
GESTATIONAL DIABETES
Is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy(usually during the 2nd or 3rd trimester), and occurs if the body does not produce enough insulin to meet the extra needs of pregnancy. The symptoms usually disappear after childbirth, but there is increased risk of acquiring Type 2 diabetes later on in life.
GLUCAGON
A hormone produced by the pancreas that causes an increase in the blood sugar level. Glucagon can be given by injection to treat a severe hypo.
GLUCOGEL (formerly known as Hypostop)
A dextrose gel that is given orally when someone is having a moderate hypoglycaemic episode.
GLUCOSE
Is a simple type of sugar that comes from the digestion of starchy foods( bread, rice, potatoes,chapatis, plantain, etc..) from sugar and sweet foods and from the liver which makes glucose.
GLYCAEMIC INDEX (GI)
This is a method used to rank foods according to how they affect blood glucose levels.
GOITRE
A slight swelling in the throat due to a large thyroid gland.
HbA1c
Is a blood test showing how much glucose has bound to your red blood cells over the previuos two to three months and is a good indicator on overall glucose control. it is expressed as a percentage, target is below 7%. See patient leaflets for deatils of HBA1c targets.
HIRSUTISM
Excess facial body hair
HYPERGLYCAEMIA or a HYPER
Means high blood glucose levels. Normally above 7mmol/l
HYPERTENSION
High blood pressure, which can lead to stroke, heart problems and kidney disease
HYPOGLYCAEMIA or a HYPO
Low blood glucose level - less that 4 mmol/L
IMPAIRED GLUCOSE TOLERANCE (IGT)
and Impaired Fasting Glycaemia (IFG) are conditions where glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to diagnose diabetes. People with IGT or IFG have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and may go on to develop Type 2 Diabetes.
INSULIN
A hormone produced by the beta cells in the panceas and released into the blood stream to control blood sugar levels in the body. Insulin helps glucose in the blood enter your bodys' cells where it is used as fuel by your body.
INSULIN PEN
A pen- like device designed to inject a measured dose of insulin. The dose can be dialled up and then safely injected from a 3ml cartridge contained within. The pen can be capped off and easily stored.
INSULIN RESISTANCE
This is when the body has become quite resistant to insulin. People can be genetically predisposed to insulin resistance, but can also become insulin resistant due to gaining weight, lack of physical activity and increasing age.
INSULIN- Background/ Basal/long acting
Insulin that is referred to as milky or cloudy in appearance. Provides a continuous supply. Medium acting: eg Insulatard, Humulin I Long acting:Glargine, (Lantus), Levemir (Detemir) usually taken before going to bed.
INSULIN- Fast /Quick / Rapid Acting
This type of Insulin can be referred to as clear insulin like water. these only last for a short period of time: eg Novorapid, Humalog, Actrapid, Humulin S
ISCHAEMIA
An inadequate flow of blood to a part of the body, caused by constriction or blockage of the blood vessels supplying it.
JAUNDICE
Is a condition, which makes the baby’s skin look yellow.
KETOACIDOSIS
Raised levels of ketone bodies in the body tissues. Ketone bodies are normal products of fat metabolism and can be oxidized to produce energy. Elevated levels arise when there is an imbalance in fat metabolism which can occur in diabetes.
KETONES
A member of a group of organic compounds which are produced during the metabolism of fats.
KETONURIA
The presence of ketonesin the urine ,which maybe due to lack of insulin.
KIDNEY DISEASE
A diabetes complication, people of Asian or Black origin with diabetes are ten times at risk of developing kidney disease.
LANCETS
Are need for blood glucose testing. You insert them into a finger pricking devise to prick your finger to obtain a drop of blod, which is then used for a blood glucose test.
LDSAG
Local Diabetes Advisory Group
LIPIDS
Are fatty substances in the blood, for example cholesterol and triglycerides.
LONG-ACTING INSULIN
Is insulin with a very long action time, upto 24 hours.
MACROSOMIA
Means large baby
MATURITY ONSET DIABETES OF THE YOUNG (MODY)
Is a rare type of diabetes that develops before the age of 25, runs in famillies and can often be controlled by diet and physical activity alone, or by activity and tabletes.
METABOLISM
The sum of all the chemical and physical changes that take place within the body. Metabolism is the breakdown of the substances for use by the body.
MICROALBUMINURIA
Is the presence of small amounts of protein in urine. The protein appears during the first stages of Kidney Disease
MULTIPLE INJECTION TREATMENT
Is treatment with injections of short or fast acting insulin before meals and intermediate or long acting insulin usually used before bedtime.
NATIONAL SERVICE FRAMEWORK (NSF)
For diabetes- is a document that sets out how services for diabetes are to be planned, put into effect and monitored and what kind of diabetes care people can expect from their NHS Trust.
NEPHROPATHY
Is a complication of diabetes that results from damage to the kidney.
NEUROPATHY
Is damage to the nerves, which carry messages to and from the brian and spinal cord. It is caused by many years of high blood glucose levels. The symptoms include pins and needles, numbness or pain in the feet or hands.
OPTHALMOLOGIST
Are doctors with specialist training in the diagnosis and treatment of disease affecting the eyes.
OPTOMETRIST
Are trained to perform eye examinations and test for eye problems. They do not treat eye disorders (see Opthalmologist)
ORAL HYPOGLYCAEMIC AGENTS
Are also called diabetes tablets, there are several types, described in the sections, but include sulphonlyureas, Biguanides, Post-prandial glucose regulators, thiazolidinediones (Glitazones) and Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors.
PANCREAS
is the organ is your abdominal cavity that produces digestive enzymes (released into the intestines) and different hormones (released in your blood) including insulin.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Is an important part of managing diabetes as it helps to lower blood glucose levels.
PODIATRIST
Are healthcare professionals with expert knowledge in feet and footcare.
PODIATRY
also known as (Chiropody) – the study and care of the foot, including its normal structure, its disease and their treatment.
POLYHDRAMNIOS
Too much amniotic fluid in pregnant women.
PRIMARY CARE TRUST
Are responsible for buying or commissioning health services for a local area.
PROTEINURIA
Refers to larger amounts of protein in the urine due to kidney damage from having high blood glucose levels. It is detectable by routine dipsticks and generally a sign of more advanced kidney disease.
REGISTRAR
A senior doctor in a hospital, lower in rank than a consultant, who specialises in a particular branch of medicine or surgery and may train junior doctors.
RETINAL SCREENING
Refers to regular eye examinations where the pupils are dilated to detect any early changes at the back of the eye, which could be signs of retinopathy. You should have your eyes examined at least once a year.
RETINOPATHY
Complication of diabetes that can lead to blindness. It is usually due to damage to the blood vessels in the back of the eye due to many years of high blood glucose & high blood pressure. Diabetic Retinopathy
SHARPS
Are any sharp medical device, such as needles or lancets. After use, sharps needed to be disposed of safely in a sharps bin.
SHARPS BIN
Yellow container used to dispose lancets, needles and any other sharps.
STROKE
A sudden attack of weakness affecting one side of the body. It is the consequence of an interruption to the flow of blood to the brain.
SUBCUTANEOUS
Is the fatty area under the skin. This is the area used when injecting insulin.
TARGET RANGE
Refers to the target range for normal blood sugar levels. The Range is between 4mmol/l to 7mmol/l
THYROID DISEASE
Occurs when the thyroid gland doesnt supply the proper amount of hormones needed by the body
TUMOUR
Is a medical word which simply means abnormal swelling, and tumours of the pituitary gland are virtually never malignant or cancerous.
TYPE 1 DIABETES
Develops if the body is unable to produce any insulin. This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 40. It is treated with a healthy diet and insulin injections and regular physical activity.
TYPE 2 DIABETES
Develops when the body still can make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance). This type of diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40. It can be treated in a variety of ways: by diet, physical activity alone; by diet, pyhsical activity and tablets; or by diet, physical activity and insulin injections.
ULCERATION
A break in the skin extending to all its layers, or a break in the mucous membrane lining the alimentary tract, that fails to heal and is often accompanied by inflammation.
URINE TEST STRIPS
The method used before the availability of blood glucose testing to test for sugar. Urine testing only shows that your blood glucose level has been high , not what the level is or has been.
VASCULAR
Relating to or supplied with blood vessels.
VENOUS BLOOD TEST
Used to take blood sample from a blood vessel (vein).
