A
ACE Inhibitor
A type of drug used to
lower blood pressure. Studies indicate that it may also
help prevent or slow the progression of kidney disease in
people with diabetes.
Acetohexamide
A pill taken to lower the
level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Only some people
with noninsulin-dependent diabetes take these pills. See
also: Oral hypoglycemic agents.
Acetone
A chemical formed in the
blood when the body uses fat instead of glucose (sugar)
for energy. If acetone forms, it usually means that the
cells do not have enough insulin, or cannot use the
insulin that is in the blood, to use glucose for energy.
Acetone passes through the body into the urine. Someone
with a lot of acetone in the body can have breath that
smells fruity and is called "acetone breath."
See also: Ketone bodies.
Acidosis
Too much acid in the
body. For a person with diabetes, this can lead to
diabetic ketoacidosis. See also: Diabetic ketoacidosis.
Acute
Happens for a limited
period of time; abrupt onset; sharp, severe.
Adrenal Glands
Two organs that sit on
top of the kidneys and make and release hormones such as
adrenalin (epinephrine). This and other hormones,
including insulin, control the body's use of glucose
(sugar).
Adult-Onset
Diabetes
Former term for
noninsulin-dependent or type II diabetes. See also:
Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Adverse Effect
A harmful result.
Albuminuria
More than normal amounts
of a protein called albumin in the urine. Albuminuria may
be a sign of kidney disease, a problem that can occur in
people who have had diabetes for a long time.
Aldose Reductase
Inhibitor
A class of drugs being
studied as a way to prevent eye and nerve damage in people
with diabetes. Aldose reductase is an enzyme that is
normally present in the eye and in many other parts of the
body. It helps change glucose (sugar) into a sugar alcohol
called sorbitol. Too much sorbitol trapped in eye and
nerve cells can damage these cells, leading to retinopathy
and neuropathy. Drugs that prevent or slow (inhibit) the
action of aldose reductase are being studied as a way to
prevent or delay these complications of diabetes.
Alpha Cell
A type of cell in the
pancreas (in areas called the islets of Langerhans). Alpha
cells make and release a hormone called glucagon, which
raises the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Amino Acid
The building blocks of
proteins; the main material of the body's cells. Insulin
is made of 51 amino acids joined together.
Amyotrophy
A type of diabetic
neuropathy that causes muscle weakness and wasting.
Angiopathy
Disease of the blood
vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries) that occurs
when someone has diabetes for a long time. There are two
types of angiopathy: macroangiopathy and microangiopathy.
In macroangiopathy, fat and blood clots build up in the
large blood vessels, stick to the vessel walls, and block
the flow of blood. In microangiopathy, the walls of the
smaller blood vessels become so thick and weak that they
bleed, leak protein, and slow the flow of blood through
the body. Then the cells, for example, the ones in the
center of the eye, do not get enough blood and may be
damaged.
Anomalies
Birth defects;
abnormalities.
Antagonist
One agent that opposes or
fights the action of another. For example, insulin lowers
the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood, whereas
glucagon raises it; therefore, insulin and glucagon are
antagonists.
Antibodies
Proteins that the body
makes to protect itself from foreign substances. In
diabetes, the body sometimes makes antibodies to work
against pork or beef insulins because they are not exactly
the same as human insulin or because they have impurities.
The antibodies can keep the insulin from working well and
may even cause the person with diabetes to have an
allergic or bad reaction to the beef or pork insulins.
Antidiabetic
Agent
A substance that helps a
person with diabetes control the level of glucose (sugar)
in the blood so that the body works as it should. See
also: Insulin; oral hypoglycemic agents.
Antigens
Substances that cause an
immune response in the body. The body "sees" the
antigens as harmful or foreign. To fight them, the body
produces antibodies, which attack and try to eliminate the
antigens.
Antiseptic
An agent that kills
bacteria. Alcohol is a common antiseptic. Before injecting
insulin, many people use alcohol to clean their skin to
avoid infection.
Arteriosclerosis
A group of diseases in
which the walls of the arteries get thick and hard. In one
type of arteriosclerosis, fat builds up inside the walls
and slows the blood flow. These diseases often occur in
people who have had diabetes for a long time. See also:
Atherosclerosis.
Artery
A large blood vessel that
carries blood from the heart to other parts of the body.
Arteries are thicker and have walls that are stronger and
more elastic than the walls of veins. See also: Blood
vessels.
Artificial
Pancreas
A large machine used in
hospitals that constantly measures glucose (sugar) in the
blood and, in response, releases the right amount of
insulin. Scientists are also working to develop a small
unit that could be implanted in the body, functioning like
a real pancreas.
Aspartame
A man-made sweetener that
people use in place of sugar because it has very few
calories.
Asymptomatic
No symptoms; no clear
sign of disease present.
Atherosclerosis
One of many diseases in
which fat builds up in the large- and medium-sized
arteries. This buildup of fat may slow down or stop blood
flow. This disease can happen to people who have had
diabetes for a long time.
Autoimmune
Disease
Disorder of the body's
immune system in which the immune system mistakenly
attacks and destroys body tissue that it believes to be
foreign. Insulin-dependent diabetes is an autoimmune
disease because the immune system attacks and destroys the
insulin-producing beta cells.
Autonomic
Neuropathy
A disease of the nerves
affecting mostly the internal organs such as the bladder
muscles, the cardiovascular system, the digestive tract,
and the genital organs. These nerves are not under a
person's conscious control and function automatically.
Also called visceral neuropathy. See also: Neuropathy.
B
Background
Retinopathy
Early stage of diabetic
retinopathy; usually does not impair vision. Also called
"nonproliferative retinopathy."
Basal Rate
Refers to a continuous
supply of low levels of insulin, as in insulin pump
therapy.
Beta Cell
A type of cell in the
pancreas in areas called the islets of Langerhans. Beta
cells make and release insulin, a hormone that controls
the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Beta Cell
Transplantation
See: Islet cell
transplantation.
Biosynthetic
Human Insulin
A man-made insulin that
is very much like human insulin. See also: Human insulin.
Biphasic Insulin
A type of insulin that is
a mixture of intermediate- and fast-acting insulin.
Blood Glucose
The main sugar that the
body makes from the three elements of food-proteins, fats,
and carbohydrates-but mostly from carbohydrates. Glucose
is the major source of energy for living cells and is
carried to each cell through the bloodstream. However, the
cells cannot use glucose without the help of insulin.
Blood Glucose
Meter
A machine that helps test
how much glucose (sugar) is in the blood. A specially
coated strip containing a fresh sample of blood is
inserted in a machine, when then calculates the correct
level of glucose in the blood sample and shows the result
in a digital display. Some meters have a memory that can
store results from multiple tests.
Blood Glucose
Monitoring
A way of testing how much
glucose (sugar) is in the blood. A drop of blood, usually
taken from the fingertip, is placed on the end of a
specially coated strip, called a testing strip. The strip
has a chemical on it that makes it change color according
to how much glucose is in the blood. A person can tell if
the level of glucose is low, high, or normal in one of two
ways. The first is by comparing the color on the end of
the strip to a color chart that is printed on the side of
the test strip container. The second is by inserting the
strip into a small machine, called a meter, which
"reads" the strip and shows the level of blood
glucose in a digital window display. Blood testing is more
accurate than urine testing in monitoring blood glucose
levels because it shows what the current level of glucose
is, rather than what the level was an hour or so
previously.
Blood Pressure
The force of the blood on
the walls of arteries. Two levels of blood pressure are
measured-the higher, or systolic, pressure, which occurs
each time the heart pushes blood into the vessels, and the
lower, or diastolic, pressure, which occurs when the heart
rests. In a blood pressure reading of 120/80, for example,
120 is the systolic pressure and 80 is the diastolic
pressure. A reading of 120/80 is said to be the normal
range. Blood pressure that is too high can cause health
problems such as heart attacks and strokes.
Blood-Sampling
Devices
A small instrument for
pricking the skin with a fine needle to obtain a sample of
blood to test for glucose (sugar). See also: Blood glucose
monitoring.
Blood Sugar
See: Blood glucose
Blood Urea
Nitrogen (BUN)
A waste product of the
kidneys. Increased levels of BUN in the blood may indicate
early kidney damage.
Blood Vessels
Tubes that act like a
system of roads or canals to carry blood to and from all
parts of the body. The three main types of blood vessels
are arteries, veins, and capillaries. The heart pumps
blood through these vessels so that the blood can carry
with it oxygen and nutrients that the cells need or take
away waste that the cells do not need.
Bolus
An extra boost of insulin
given to cover expected rise in blood glucose (sugar) such
as the rise that occurs after eating.
Borderline
Diabetes
A term no longer used.
See: Impaired glucose tolerance.
Brittle Diabetes
A term used when a
person's blood glucose (sugar) level often swings quickly
from high to low and from low to high. Also called labile
and unstable diabetes.
Bronze Diabetes
A genetic disease of the
liver in which the body takes in too much iron from food.
Also called "hemocromatosis."
Bunion
A bump or bulge on the
first joint of the big toe caused by the swelling of a sac
of fluid under the skin. Shoes that fit well can keep
bunions from forming. Bunions can lead to other problems
such as serious infections. See also: Foot care.
C
C.D.E. (Certified
Diabetes Educator)
A health care
professional who is qualified by the American Association
of Diabetes Educators to teach people with diabetes how to
manage their condition. The health care team for diabetes
should include a diabetes educator, preferably a C.D.E.
C-Peptide
A substance that the
pancreas releases into the bloodstream in equal amounts to
insulin. A test of C-peptide levels will show how much
insulin the body is making.
Calcium Channel
Blocker
A drug used to lower
blood pressure.
Callus
A small area of skin,
usually on the foot, that has become thick and hard from
rubbing or pressure. Calluses may lead to other problems
such as serious infection. Shoes that fit well can keep
calluses from forming. See also: Foot care.
Calorie
Energy that comes from
food. Some foods have more calories than others. Fats have
many calories. Most vegetables have few. People with
diabetes are advised to follow meal plans with suggested
amounts of calories for each meal and/or snack. See also:
Meal plan; exchange lists.
Capillary
The smallest of the
body's blood vessels. Capillaries have walls so thin that
oxygen and glucose can pass through them and enter the
cells, and waste products such as carbon dioxide can pass
back into the blood to be carried away and taken out of
the body. Sometimes people who have had diabetes for a
long time find that their capillaries become weak,
especially those in the kidney and the retina of the eye.
See also: Blood vessels.
Capsaicin
A topical ointment made
from chili peppers used to relieve the pain of peripheral
neuropathy.
Carbohydrate
One of the three main
classes of foods and a source of energy. Carbohydrates are
mainly sugars and starches that the body breaks down into
glucose (a simple sugar that the body can use to feed its
cells). The body also uses carbohydrates to make a
substance called glycogen that is stored in the liver and
muscles for future use. If the body does not have enough
insulin or cannot use the insulin it has, then the body
will not be able to use carbohydrates for energy the way
it should. This condition is called diabetes. See also:
Fats; protein.
Cardiologist
A doctor who sees and
takes care of people with heart disease; a heart
specialist.
Cardiovascular
Relating to the heart and
blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries); the
circulatory system.
Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome
A nerve disorder
affecting the hand that may occur in people with diabetes;
caused by a pinched nerve.
Cataract
Clouding of the lens of
the eye. In people with diabetes, this condition is
sometimes referred to as "sugar cataract."
Cerebrovascular
Disease
Damage to the blood
vessels in the brain, resulting in a stroke. The blood
vessels become blocked because of fat deposits or they
become thick and hard, blocking the flow of blood to the
brain. Sometimes, the blood vessels may burst, resulting
in a hemorrhagic stroke. People with diabetes are at
higher risk of cerebrovascular disease. See also:
Macrovascular disease; stroke.
Charcot Foot
A foot complication
associated with diabetic neuropathy that results in
destruction of joints and soft tissue. Also called "Charcot's
joint" and "neuropathic arthropathy."
Chemical Diabetes
A term no longer used.
See: Impaired glucose tolerance.
Chlorpropamide
A pill taken to lower the
level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Only some people
with noninsulin-dependent diabetes take these pills. See
also: Oral hypoglycemic agents
Cholesterol
A fat-like substance
found in blood, muscle, liver, brain, and other tissues in
people and animals. The body makes and needs some
cholesterol. Too much cholesterol, however, may cause fat
to build up in the artery walls and cause a disease that
slows or stops the flow of blood. Butter and egg yolks are
foods that have a lot of cholesterol.
Chronic
Present over a long
period of time. Diabetes is an example of chronic disease.
Circulation
The flow of blood through
the heart and blood vessels of the body.
Clinical Trial
A scientifically
controlled study carried out in people, usually to test
the effectiveness of a new treatment.
Coma
A sleep-like state; not
conscious. May be due to a high or low level of glucose
(sugar) in the blood. See also: Diabetic coma.
Comatose
In a coma; not conscious.
Complications of
Diabetes
Harmful effects that may
happen when a person has diabetes. Some effects, such as
hypoglycemia, can happen any time. Others develop when a
person has had diabetes for a long time. These include
damage to the retina of the eye (retinopathy), the blood
vessels (angiopathy), the nervous system (neuropathy), and
the kidneys (nephropathy). Studies show that keeping blood
glucose levels as close to the normal, nondiabetic range
as possible may help prevent, slow, or delay harmful
effects to the eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
Congenital
Defects
Problems or conditions
that are present at birth.
Congestive Heart
Failure
Heart failure caused by
loss of pumping power by the heart, resulting in fluids
collecting in the body. Congestive heart failure often
develops gradually over several years, although it also
can happen suddenly. It can be treated by drugs and in
some cases, by surgery.
Contraindication
A condition that makes a
treatment not helpful or even harmful.
Controlled
Disease
Taking care of oneself so
that a disease has less of an effect on the body. People
with diabetes can "control" the disease by
staying on their diets, by exercising, by taking medicine
if it is needed, and by monitoring their blood glucose.
This care will help keep the glucose (sugar) level in the
blood from becoming either too high or too low.
Conventional
Therapy
A system of diabetes
management practiced by most people with diabetes; the
system consists of one or two insulin injections each day,
daily self-monitoring of blood glucose, and a standard
program of nutrition and exercise. The main objective in
this form of treatment is to avoid very high and very low
blood glucose (sugar). Also called: "Standard
Therapy."
Coronary Disease
Damage to the heart. Not
enough blood flows through the vessels because they are
blocked with fat or have become thick and hard; this harms
the muscles of the heart. People with diabetes are at a
higher risk of coronary disease.
Coxsackie B4
Virus
An agent that has been
shown to damage the beta cells of the pancreas in lab
tests. This virus may be one cause of insulin-dependent
diabetes.
Creatinine
A chemical found in the
blood and passed in the urine. A test of the amount of
creatinine in blood or in blood and urine shows if the
kidney is working right or if it is diseased. This is
called the creatinine clearance test.
CSII: Continuous
Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion
See: Insulin pump.
Cyclamate
A man-made chemical that
people used instead of sugar. The Food and Drug
Administration banned the sale of cyclamates in 1973
because lab tests showed that large amounts of cyclamates
can cause bladder cancer in rats.
D
Dawn Phenomenon
A sudden rise in blood
glucose levels in the early morning hours. This condition
sometimes occurs in people with insulin-dependent diabetes
and (rarely) in people with noninsulin-dependent diabetes.
Unlike the Somogyi effect, it is not a result of an
insulin reaction. People who have high levels of blood
glucose in the mornings before eating may need to monitor
their blood glucose during the night. If blood glucose
levels are rising, adjustments in evening snacks or
insulin dosages may be recommended. See also: Somogyi
effect.
Debridement
The removal of infected,
hurt, or dead tissue.
Dehydration
Great loss of body water.
A very high level of glucose (sugar) in the urine causes
loss of a great deal of water, and the person becomes very
thirsty.
Delta Cell
A type of cell in the
pancreas in areas called the islets of Langerhans. Delta
cells make somatostatin, a hormone that is believed to
control how the beta cells make and release insulin and
how the alpha cells make and release glucagon.
Desensitization
A method to reduce or
stop a response such as an allergic reaction to something.
For instance, if a person with diabetes has a bad reaction
to taking a full dose of beef insulin, the doctor gives
the person a very small amount of the insulin at first.
Over a period of time, larger doses are given until the
person is taking the full dose. This is one way to help
the body get used to the full dose and to avoid having the
allergic reaction.
Dextrose
A simple sugar found in
the blood. It is the body's main source of energy. Also
called glucose. See also: Blood glucose.
Diabetes Control
and Complications Trial (DCCT)
A 10-year study
(1983-1993) funded by the National Institute of Diabetes
and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to assess the effects of
intensive therapy on the long-term complications of
diabetes. The study proved that intensive management of
insulin-dependent diabetes prevents or slows the
development of eye, kidney, and nerve damage caused by
diabetes.
Diabetes
Insipidus
A disease of the
pituitary gland or kidney, not diabetes mellitus. Diabetes
insipidus is often called "water diabetes" to
set it apart from "sugar diabetes." The cause
and treatment are not the same as for diabetes mellitus.
"Water diabetes" has diabetes in its name
because most people who have it show most of the same
signs as someone with diabetes mellitus-they have to
urinate often, get very thirsty and hungry, and feel weak.
However, they do not have glucose (sugar) in their urine.
Diabetes Mellitus
A disease that occurs
when the body is not able to use sugar as it should. The
body needs sugar for growth and energy for daily
activities. It gets sugar when it changes food into
glucose (a form of sugar). A hormone called insulin is
needed for the glucose to be taken up and used by the
body. Diabetes occurs when the body cannot make use of the
glucose in the blood for energy because either the
pancreas is not able to make enough insulin or the insulin
that is available is not effective. The beta cells in
areas of the pancreas called the islets of Langerhans
usually make insulin.
There are two main types
of diabetes mellitus: insulin-dependent (Type I) and
noninsulin-dependent (Type II). In insulin-dependent
diabetes (IDDM), the pancreas makes little or no insulin
because the insulin-producing beta cells have been
destroyed. This type usually appears suddenly and most
commonly in younger people under age 30. Treatment
consists of daily insulin injections or use of an insulin
pump, a planned diet and regular exercise, and daily
self-monitoring of blood glucose.
In noninsulin-dependent
diabetes (NIDDM), the pancreas makes some insulin,
sometimes too much. The insulin, however, is not effective
(see Insulin Resistance). NIDDM is controlled by diet and
exercise and daily monitoring of glucose levels. Sometimes
oral drugs that lower blood glucose levels or insulin
injections are needed. This type of diabetes usually
develops gradually, most often in people over 40 years of
age. NIDDM accounts for 90 to 95 percent of diabetes.
The signs of diabetes
include having to urinate often, losing weight, getting
very thirsty, and being hungry all the time. Other signs
are blurred vision, itching, and slow healing of sores.
People with untreated or undiagnosed diabetes are thirsty
and have to urinate often because glucose builds to a high
level in the bloodstream and the kidneys are working hard
to flush out the extra amount. People with untreated
diabetes often get hungry and tired because the body is
not able to use food the way it should.
In insulin-dependent
diabetes, if the level of insulin is too low for a long
period of time, the body begins to break down its stores
of fat for energy. This causes the body to release acids (ketones)
into the blood. The result is called ketoacidosis, a
severe condition that may put a person into a coma if not
treated right away.
The causes of diabetes
are not known. Scientists think that insulin- dependent
diabetes may be more than one disease and may have many
causes. They are looking at hereditary (whether or not the
person has parents or other family members with the
disease) and at factors both inside and outside the body,
including viruses.
Noninsulin-dependent
diabetes appears to be closely associated with obesity and
with the body resisting the action of insulin.
Diabetic
Amyotrophy
A disease of the nerves
leading to the muscles. This condition affects only one
side of the body and occurs most often in older men with
mild diabetes. See also: Neuropathy.
Diabetic
Angiopathy
See: Angiopathy.
Diabetic Coma
A severe emergency in
which a person is not conscious because the blood glucose
(sugar) is too low or too high. If the glucose level is
too low, the person has hypoglycemia; if the level is too
high, the person has hyperglycemia and may develop
ketoacidosis. See also: Hyperglycemia; hypoglycemia;
diabetic ketoacidosis.
Diabetic
Ketoacidosis (DKA)
Severe, out-of-control
diabetes (high blood sugar) that needs emergency
treatment. DKA happens when blood sugar levels get too
high. This may happen because of illness, taking too
little insulin, or getting too little exercise. The body
starts using stored fat for energy, and ketone bodies
(acids) build up in the blood.
Ketoacidosis starts
slowly and builds up. The signs include nausea and
vomiting, which can lead to loss of water from the body,
stomach pain, and deep and rapid breathing. Other signs
are a flushed face, dry skin and mouth, a fruity breath
odor, a rapid and weak pulse, and low blood pressure. If
the person is not given fluids and insulin right away,
ketoacidosis can lead to coma and even death.
Diabetic
Myelopathy
Spinal cord damage found
in some people with diabetes.
Diabetic
Nephropathy
See: Nephropathy
Diabetic
Neuropathy
See: Neuropathy
Diabetic
Osteopathy
Loss of foot bone as
viewed by x-ray; usually temporary. Also called
"disappearing bone disease."
Diabetic
Retinopathy
A disease of the small
blood vessels of the retina of the eye. When retinopathy
first starts, the tiny blood vessels in the retina become
swollen, and they leak a little fluid into the center of
the retina. The person's sight may be blurred. This
condition is called background retinopathy. About 80
percent of people with background retinopathy never have
serious vision problems, and the disease never goes beyond
this first stage.
However, if retinopathy
progresses, the harm to sight can be more serious. Many
new, tiny blood vessels grow out and across the eye. This
is called neovascularization. The vessels may break and
bleed into the clear gel that fills the center of the eye,
blocking vision. Scar tissue may also form near the
retina, pulling it away from the back of the eye. This
stage is called proliferative retinopathy, and it can lead
to impaired vision and even blindness. See also:
Photocoagulation or vitrectomy for treatments.
Diabetogenic
Causing diabetes; some
drugs cause blood glucose (sugar) to rise, resulting in
diabetes.
Diabetologist
A doctor who sees and
treats people with diabetes mellitus.
Diagnosis
The term used when a
doctor finds that a person has a certain medical problem
or disease.
Dialysis
A method for removing
waste such as urea from the blood when the kidneys can no
longer do the job. The two types of dialysis are:
hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. In hemodialysis, the
patient's blood is passed through a tube into a machine
that filters out waste products. The cleansed blood is
then returned to the body.
In peritoneal dialysis, a
special solution is run through a tube into the
peritoneum, a thin tissue that lines the cavity of the
abdomen. The body's waste products are removed through the
tube. There are three types of peritoneal dialysis.
Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), the most
common type, needs no machine and can be done at home.
Continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) uses a
machine and is usually performed at night when the person
is sleeping. Intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD) uses
the same type of machine as CCPD, but is usually done in
the hospital because treatment takes longer. Hemodialysis
and peritoneal dialysis may be used to treat people with
diabetes who have kidney failure.
Diastolic Blood
Pressure
See: Blood pressure.
Diet Plan
See: Meal plan.
Dietitian
An expert in nutrition
who helps people with special health needs plan the kinds
and amounts of foods to eat. A registered dietitian (R.D.)
has special qualifications. The health care team for
diabetes should include a dietitian, preferably an R.D.
Dilated Pupil
Examination
A necessary part of an
examination for diabetic eye disease. Special drops are
used to enlarge the pupils, enabling the doctor to view
the back of the eye for damage.
Distal Sensory
Neuropathy
See: Peripheral
neuropathy.
Diuretic
A drug that increases the
flow of urine to rid the body of extra fluid.
DKA See: Diabetic
ketoacidosis.
DNA
(Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
A chemical substance in
plant and animal cells that tells the cells what to do and
when to do it. DNA is the information about what each
person inherits from his or her parents.
Dupuytren's
Contracture
A condition that causes
the fingers to curve inward and may also affect the palm.
The condition is more common in people with diabetes and
may precede diabetes.
E
Edema
A swelling or puffiness
of some part of the body such as the ankles. Water or
other body fluids collect in the cells and cause the
swelling.
Electromyography
(EMG)
Test used to diagnose
neuropathy and check for nerve damage.
Emergency Medical
Identification
Cards, bracelets, or
necklaces with a written message used by people with
diabetes or other medical problems to alert others in case
of a medical emergency such as coma.
Endocrine Glands
Glands that release
hormones into the bloodstream. They affect how the body
uses food (metabolism). They also influence other body
functions. One endocrine gland is the pancreas. It
releases insulin so the body can use sugar for energy. See
also: Gland.
Endocrinologist
A doctor who treats
people who have problems with their endocrine glands.
Diabetes is an endocrine disorder. See also: Endocrine
glands.
Endogenous
Grown or made inside the
body. Insulin made by a person's own pancreas is
endogenous insulin. Insulin that is made from beef or pork
pancreas or derived from bacteria is exogenous because it
comes from outside the body and must be injected.
End-Stage Renal
Disease (ESRD)
The final phase of kidney
disease; treated by dialysis or kidney transplantation.
See also: Dialysis; nephropathy.
Enzymes
A special type of
protein. Enzymes help the body's chemistry work better and
more quickly. Each enzyme usually has its own chemical job
to do such as helping to change starch into glucose
(sugar).
Epidemiology
The study of a disease
that deals with how many people have it, where they are,
how many new cases develop, and how to control the
disease.
Epinephrine
One of the secretions of
the adrenal glands. It helps the liver release glucose
(sugar) and limit the release of insulin. It also makes
the heart beat faster and can raise blood pressure; also
called adrenalin.
Etiology
The study of what causes
a disease; also the cause or causes of a certain disease.
Euglycemia
A normal level of glucose
(sugar) in the blood.
Exchange Lists
A grouping of foods by
type to help people on special diets stay on the diet.
Each group lists food in serving sizes. A person can
exchange, trade, or substitute a food serving in one group
for another food serving in the same group. The lists put
foods in six groups: (1) starch/bread, (2) meat, (3)
vegetables, (4) fruit, (5) milk, and (6) fats. Within a
food group, each serving has about the same amount of
carbohydrate, protein, fat, and calories.
Exogenous
Grown or made outside the
body; for instance, insulin made from pork or beef
pancreas is exogenous insulin for people.
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