Health Library

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• 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: Hyperglycemia

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

• 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: Neuropathy

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

• 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: 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: Beta Cells

  Beta cells are cells that make insulin.

• 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: Fats

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

• Definition: Fatty Acids

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