Health Library

Articles In This Section

• Blood Glucose Record

  If your child has diabetes, you can use this printable sheet to record his or her blood glucose levels.

• 3-Day Food Diary

  If your child has diabetes, you can use this printable sheet to record what he or she eats over a 3-day period.

• Diabetes: Dealing With Feelings

  If your child has diabetes, you may spend a lot of time thinking about the physical effects. But it's also important to understand the emotional issues surrounding a diabetes diagnosis.

• Diabetes Movie

  What is diabetes and how does it affect the body? Watch this video to find out!

• Definition: Urinalysis

  A urinalysis is a laboratory examination of a person's urine.

• Definition: Retinopathy

  Retinopathy is the medical term for disease of the retina.

• Definition: Polyuria

  A person with polyuria makes large amounts of urine.

• Definition: Hypoglycemia

  Hypoglycemia occurs when the level of glucose in the blood is lower than it should be.

• Definition: Neuropathy

  Neuropathy is a medical term for disease of the nervous system.

• Definition: Insulin

  Insulin is a hormone that lowers the level of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood.

• Definition: Insulin Injections

  Although researchers are testing other ways to give insulin, it's only available now in a form that must be injected just under the skin.

• Definition: Insulin Pump

  An insulin pump is an insulin-delivering device that's used by some people with diabetes.

• Definition: Insulin Resistance

  Insulin resistance occurs when the body doesn't respond as well to the insulin that the pancreas is making and glucose is less able to enter the cells.

• Definition: Islet Cells

  The pancreas contains clusters of cells that produce hormones. These clusters are known as islets.

• Definition: Ketoacidosis

  Ketoacidosis is a severe life-threatening condition requiring immediate treatment. Symptoms of ketoacidosis include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, rapid breathing, and, in severe cases, unconsciousness.

• Definition: Ketones

  When fats are broken down for energy, chemicals called ketones appear in the blood and urine.

• Definition: Kidney

  The kidneys are a pair of organs that are found on either side of the spine, just below the rib cage in the back.

• Definition: Nephropathy

  Nephropathy is a medical term for kidney disease.

• Definition: Hyperglycemia

  Hyperglycemia occurs when the level of glucose in the blood is higher than it should be.

• Definition: Hormones

  Hormones are chemical substances that act like messenger molecules in the body.

• Definition: Glycosylated Hemoglobin Test (Hemoglobin A1c)

  The glycosylated hemoglobin test shows what a person's average blood glucose level was for the 2 to 3 months before the test. This can help determine how well a person's diabetes is being controlled over time.

• Definition: Glycogen

  When the body doesn't need to use the glucose for energy, it stores it in the liver and muscles. This stored form of glucose is made up of many connected glucose molecules and is called glycogen.

• Definition: Glycemic Index

  The glycemic index measures how fast and how much a food raises blood glucose levels.

• Definition: Glucose

  Glucose is the main type of sugar in the blood and is the major source of energy for the body's cells.

• Definition: Glucagon

  Glucagon is a hormone that raises the level of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood.

• Definition: Pancreas

  The pancreas is a long, flat gland that lies in the abdomen behind the stomach.

• Definition: Pediatric Endocrinologist

  A pediatric endocrinologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of children with diseases of the endocrine system, such as diabetes and growth disorders.

• Definition: Polydipsia

  A person with polydipsia drinks excessive amounts of fluid.

• Definition: Polyphagia

  A person with polyphagia eats excessive amounts of food.

• Definition: Beta Cells

  Beta cells are cells that make insulin.

• Definition: Fats

  The body uses fat as a fuel source, and fat is the major storage form of energy in the body.

• Definition: Autoimmunity

  Sometimes the immune system makes a mistake and attacks the body's own tissues or organs. This is called autoimmunity.

• Definition: Blood Glucose Level

  The blood glucose level is the amount of glucose in the blood.

• Definition: Blood Glucose Meter

  A blood glucose meter is a small, portable machine that's used to measure how much glucose (a type of sugar) is in the blood.

• Definition: Bolus

  For a person with diabetes, a bolus is a dose of insulin taken to handle a rise in blood glucose.

• Definition: Carbohydrate

  All carbohydrates break down into simple sugars, which are absorbed into the bloodstream.

• Definition: Carbohydrate Counting

  Many people with diabetes use carbohydrate ("carb") counting to estimate the amount of carbohydrate in the foods they eat.

• Definition: Certified Diabetes Educators (CDEs)

  Certified diabetes educators are health care professionals who specialize in treating people with diabetes.

• Definition: Diabetes

  Diabetes is a condition that happens when the body can't use glucose (a type of sugar) normally.

• Definition: Exchange Meal Plan

  Many people with diabetes use a food-balancing program called the exchange meal plan to guide what they eat each day.

• Definition: Fatty Acids

  Fatty acids are the building blocks of the fat in our bodies and in the food we eat.

• Carbohydrates and Sugar

  Carbs are the body's most important and readily available source of energy. The key is to eat healthy ones, like whole grains, and avoid foods with added sugar.

• Recipes for Kids With Diabetes

  These recipes were created for kids with diabetes, but can be enjoyed by anyone looking for nutritious meals and snacks.

• Endocrine System

  The glands of the endocrine system and the hormones they release affect almost every cell, organ, and function of our bodies.

• What Is Insulin? (Video)

  Insulin is a hormone that helps sugar (glucose) get into all the cells in the body for energy. Insulin is made in the pancreas and released into the blood when the glucose level goes up. Without insulin, the sugar in blood would get too high.

• What’s Type 1 Diabetes? (Video)

  Watch this video to see what happens inside the body when a person has type 1 diabetes.

• Understanding Diabetes (Video)

  Diabetes is a disease that affects how the body uses glucose (say: GLOO-kose), a sugar that is the body's main source of fuel. Your body needs glucose to keep running.

• Teaching Your Child How to Swallow Pills

  Swallowing a pill is something that many of us take for granted. But just like any skill, learning to swallow a pill takes practice.