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Glossary
Acetone:
One of the larger classes of chemicals called ketones.
Acidosis: An abnormal condition resulting from too high a level
of acids in the blood (see Ketoacidosis).
Adrenaline: An important hormone in the body; also known as
epinephrine. It prepares the body for emergencies by raising blood
pressure, making breathing easier, speeding the heart rate, and
increasing blood sugar.
Adult onset diabetes: See maturity onset diabetes.
Albumin: A protein found in the blood.
Alcohol: is made from carbohydrates and is digested like a fat in
the body. It provides about 7 calories per gram in its pure state.
Beverages such as hard liquor, beer, and wine range in alcohol content
from several percent to more than 50 percent.
Amino Acids: The basic building blocks of proteins, which link
together in chains of varied lengths to produce an infinite variety of
proteins. Scientists know of over 20different amino acids.
Arteriosclerosis: A general term that describes number of
diseases of blood vessels, of which atherosclerosis is the most
important to the diabetic.
Artery: A blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the
other parts of the body. Vessels called veins return the blood to the
heart.
Atherosclerosis: Characterized by hardening and thickening of the
arteries due to an accumulation of fatty substances along the inside of
the arterial walls. This reduces blood flow and raises blood pressure.
Atherosclerosis can be a serious complication for a person with
diabetes.
Asymptomatic: Without noticeable symptoms. Diabetes is an
asymptomatic disease. For this reason persons with diabetes should not
assume their condition is entirely stable simply be cause they feel
well.
Beta Cells: Located in the pancreas and responsible for producing
the body's supply of insulin.
Blood Sugar: The level of glucose in the blood. Physicians can
easily obtain the level from lab tests, and diabetics can obtain
an approximation through home testing.
Brittle: A term used to describe a type of diabetes that varies
from good control to poor control and shows great fluctuations of sugar
levels daily. Brittle diabetics find it very difficult to control their
diabetes, and they show extreme reactions to changes in glucose and
insulin levels in the bloodstream.
Brown sugar: A form of sucrose that contains some molasses, which
is also a sugar.
Calorie: A unit used to express heat or energy obtained from
food. About 3,500 calories are equivalent to one pound of body weight.
Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, (and alcohols) are all energy sources
and thus provide calories. Nutrients such as vitamins and minerals do
not provide calories, but without them the body cannot function well.
Carbohydrates: Sugars and starches that are made up of carbon,
hydrogen, and oxygen. Like protein, they provide 4 calories per gram.
Cardiovascular: An adjective revering to the heart and blood vessels.
Cholesterol: A fat like substance that is an essential component
of human cells. Too much cholesterol in the blood will stick to artery
walls, clog them, and lead to atherosclerosis.
Coma: A state of profound unconsciousness. In persons with
diabetes, coma may result from hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
Confectioner's Sugar: See sucrose.
Corn Sugar: A form of glucose made fro cornstarch, about half as
sweet as sugar.
Corn Sweetener: A liquid sugar, which, like corn sugar, is derived from
cornstarch.
Dehydration: A condition resulting from loss of body fluids. To
avoid dehydration one must replace fluids by drinking more liquids at
times of exercise, exertion, or sweating.
Dextrose: The commercial name for glucose.
Diabetes Insipidus: A disorder in which large amounts of urine are
excreted. The urine is normal and sugar is not present as in diabetes
mellitus. For further information on diabetes Insipidus, consult another
source. This book concentrates on diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes Mellitus: A condition characterized by an excess of
sugar in the blood and or urine. It develops due to the body's inability
to make appropriate use of ingested food as a result of insufficient
availability of insulin. The term was derived from Greek words meaning
passing through and sweet as honey. In this book diabetes mellitus is
referred to simply as diabetes.
Diabetologist: A physician who specializes in treating patients with
diabetes.
Diuretics: Drugs that act to increase urine output and lower the
volume of water in the body.
Dulcitol: A sugar alcohol.
Edema: the swelling of tissues due to an accumulation of excess
salt and water in the body.
Enzyme: Proteins that speed up or allow a chemical reaction in
the body to take place.
Fat: One of the three main food energy sources; the other two are
proteins and carbohydrates. Fat provides 9 calories per gram, more than
double the caloric value of carbohydrates and proteins.
Fiber: Dietary fiber is the part of vegetables and grains that is
not broken down by digestive juices in the intestine, as are other food
elements. Fiber in the diet is considered important because it helps
hold water in the intestine, adds bulk to stools, and softens them. It
also helps regulate the time it takes for food waste to move through the
body.
Food Exchange: Groups of foods that, in given portions, provide
equal amounts of nutrients and calories.
Free foods: A food containing little or no calories that maybe
used in limitless quantities by persons with diabetes.
Fructose: A natural sugar also known as fruit sugar or levulose.
Fructose is sometimes almost twice as sweet as sucrose, or table sugar.
Galactose: A type of sugar found in lactose, or milk sugar.
Gestational diabetes: Diabetes that occurs during pregnancy.
Often, diabetes manifests itself during pregnancy; sometimes it
disappears after the pregnancy.
Glucagon: A hormone produced by the pancreas that raises the
blood sugar level by causing the breakdown of glycogen (stored glucose).
Glucose: The form of sugar that the body uses for energy. It
causes a rapid rise in the blood sugar, or blood glucose level. All
starches eventually break down into glucose, as do all sugars.
Glucose syrups: Syrups that contain glucose and maltose and are
made by breaking down starches.
Glucose tolerance test: A test commonly done in physicians' offices as a
part of a complete examination or specifically be cause diabetes is
suspected. The test enables your physician to chart your blood's glucose
level over a several hour period. It involves taking a small specimen of
blood from your arm. You usually drink a beverage containing glucose at
the start of the testing period.
Glycemia: A general term meaning sugar in the blood.
Hyperglycemia is a more specific term meaning too much sugar in the
blood, while hypoglycemia denotes too little sugar in the blood.
Glycosuria: A term used to denote sugar in the urine. Sugar in
the urine can be measured by both doctor and patient.
Glycogen: Excess glucose stored in muscles and the liver for
future use.
Gram: A metric unit of mass and weight. There are 28.35 grams in
an ounce and 453.6 grams in a pound.
Granulated sugar: A form of sucrose.
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