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Acanthosis:
A skin condition characterized by darkened skin patches; common in people whose body is not responding correctly to the insulin that they make in their pancreas (insulin resistance). This skin condition is also seen in people who have pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes.
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ACE inhibitor:
An oral medicine that lowers blood pressure; ACE stands for angiotensin (an-gee-oh-TEN-sin) converting enzyme. For people with diabetes, especially those who have protein (albumin) in the urine, it also helps slow down kidney damage.
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Acesulfame:
A dietary sweetener with no calories and no nutritional value. Also known as acesulfame-K. (Brand name: Sunett.)
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Adhesive capsulitis:
A condition of the shoulder associated with diabetes that results in pain and loss of the ability to move the shoulder in all directions.
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Adult-onset diabetes:
Former term for type 2 diabetes.
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AGEs:
Stands for advanced glycosylation end products. AGEs are produced in the body when glucose links with protein. They play a role in damaging blood vessels, which can lead to diabetes complications.
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Albuminuria:
A condition in which the urine has more than normal amounts of a protein called albumin. Albuminuria may be a sign of nephropathy (kidney disease).
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Alpha cell:
A type of cell in the pancreas. Alpha cells make and release a hormone called glucagon. The body sends a signal to the alpha cells to make glucagon when blood glucose falls too low. Then glucagon reaches the liver where it tells it to release glucose into the blood for energy.
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Amylin:
A hormone formed by beta cells in the pancreas. Amylin regulates the timing of glucose release into the bloodstream after eating by slowing the emptying of the stomach.
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Amyotrophy:
A type of neuropathy resulting in pain, weakness, and/or wasting in the muscles.
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Angiopathy:
Any disease of the blood vessels (veins, arteries, capillaries) or lymphatic vessels.
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Antibodies:
Proteins made by the body to protect itself from "foreign" substances such as bacteria or viruses. People get type 1 diabetes when their bodies make antibodies that destroy the body's own insulin-making beta cells.
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A1C:
A test that measures a person's average blood glucose level over the past 2 to 3 months. Hemoglobin (HEE-mo-glo-bin) is the part of a red blood cell that carries oxygen to the cells and sometimes joins with the glucose in the bloodstream. Also called hemoglobin A1C or glycosylated (gly-KOH-sih-lay-ted) hemoglobin, the test shows the amount of glucose that sticks to the red blood cell, which is proportional to the amount of glucose in the blood.
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Arteriosclerosis:
Hardening of the arteries.
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Artery:
A large blood vessel that carries blood with oxygen from the heart to all parts of the body.
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Aspart insulin:
A rapid-acting insulin. On average, aspart insulin starts to lower blood glucose within 10 to 20 minutes after injection. It has its strongest effect 1 to 3 hours after injection but keeps working for 3 to 5 hours after injection.
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Aspartame:
A dietary sweetener with almost no calories and no nutritional value. (Brand names: Equal, NutraSweet.)
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Atherosclerosis:
Clogging, narrowing, and hardening of the body's large arteries and medium-sized blood vessels. Atherosclerosis can lead to stroke, heart attack, eye problems, and kidney problems.
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Autoimmune:
Disorder of the body's immune system in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys body tissue that it believes to be foreign.
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Autonomic neuropathy:
A type of neuropathy affecting the lungs, heart, stomach, intestines, bladder, or genitals.
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Avandia:
See rosiglitazone.
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Background retinopathy:
A type of damage to the retina of the eye marked by bleeding, fluid accumulation, and abnormal dilation of the blood vessels. Background retinopathy is an early stage of diabetic retinopathy. Also called simple or nonproliferative (non-pro-LIF-er-uh-tiv) retinopathy.
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Basal rate:
A steady trickle of low levels of longer-acting insulin, such as that used in insulin pumps.
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Beta cell:
A cell that makes insulin. Beta cells are located in the islets of the pancreas.
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Blood glucose:
The main sugar found in the blood and the body's main source of energy. Also called blood sugar.
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Blood glucose level:
The amount of glucose in a given amount of blood. It is noted in milligrams in a deciliter, or mg/dL.
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Blood glucose meter:
A small, portable machine used by people with diabetes to check their blood glucose levels. After pricking the skin with a lancet, one places a drop of blood on a test strip in the machine. The meter (or monitor) soon displays the blood glucose level as a number on the meter's digital display.
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Blood glucose monitoring:
Checking blood glucose level on a regular basis in order to manage diabetes. A blood glucose meter (or blood glucose test strips that change color when touched by a blood sample) is needed for frequent blood glucose monitoring.
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Blood sugar:
See blood glucose.
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Blood urea nitrogen (BUN):
A waste product in the blood from the breakdown of protein. The kidneys filter blood to remove urea. As kidney function decreases, the BUN levels increase.
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Blood vessels:
Tubes that carry blood to and from all parts of the body. The three main types of blood vessels are arteries, veins, and capillaries.
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Body mass index (BMI):
A measure used to evaluate body weight relative to a person's height. BMI is used to find out if a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.
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Bolus:
An extra amount of insulin taken to cover an expected rise in blood glucose, often related to a meal or snack.
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Borderline diabetes:
A former term for type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance.
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Brittle diabetes:
A term used when a person's blood glucose level moves often from low to high and from high to low.
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BUN:
See blood urea nitrogen.
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Callus:
A small area of skin, usually on the foot, that has become thick and hard from rubbing or pressure.
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Calorie:
A unit representing the energy provided by food. Carbohydrate, protein, fat, and alcohol provide calories in the diet. Carbohydrate and protein have 4 calories per gram, fat has 9 calories per gram, and alcohol has 7 calories per gram.
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Carbohydrate:
One of the three main nutrients in food. Foods that provide carbohydrate are starches, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and sugars.
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Carbohydrate counting:
A method of meal planning for people with diabetes based on counting the number of grams of carbohydrate in food.
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Cardiovascular disease:
Disease of the heart and blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries).
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Cataract:
Clouding of the lens of the eye.
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Cerebrovascular disease:
Damage to blood vessels in the brain. Vessels can burst and bleed or become clogged with fatty deposits. When blood flow is interrupted, brain cells die or are damaged, resulting in a stroke.
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Certified diabetes educator (CDE):
A health care professional with expertise in diabetes education who has met eligibility requirements and successfully completed a certification exam. See diabetes educator.
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Cholesterol:
A type of fat produced by the liver and found in the blood; it is also found in some foods. Cholesterol is used by the body to make hormones and build cell walls.
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Chronic:
Describes something that is long-lasting. Opposite of acute.
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Coma:
A sleep-like state in which a person is not conscious. May be caused by hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) or hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) in people with diabetes.
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Complications:
Harmful effects of diabetes such as damage to the eyes, heart, blood vessels, nervous system, teeth and gums, feet and skin, or kidneys. Studies show that keeping blood glucose, blood pressure, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels close to normal can help prevent or delay these problems.
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Congestive heart failure:
Loss of the heart's pumping power, which causes fluids to collect in the body, especially in the feet and lungs.
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Conventional therapy:
A term used in clinical trials where one group receives treatment for diabetes in which A1C and blood glucose levels are kept at levels based on current practice guidelines. However, the goal is not to keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible, as is done in intensive therapy. Conventional therapy includes use of medication, meal planning, and exercise, along with regular visits to health care providers. See coronary heart disease.
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Coronary heart disease:
Heart disease caused by narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. If the blood supply is cut off the result is a heart attack.
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C-peptide:
"Connecting peptide," a substance the pancreas releases into the bloodstream in equal amounts to insulin. A test of C-peptide levels shows how much insulin the body is making.
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Creatinine:
A waste product from protein in the diet and from the muscles of the body. Creatinine is removed from the body by the kidneys; as kidney disease progresses, the level of creatinine in the blood increases.
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