K
Ketoacidosis
See: Diabetic
ketoacidosis.
Ketone Bodies
Chemicals that the body
makes when there is not enough insulin in the blood and it
must break down fat for its energy. Ketone bodies can
poison and even kill body cells. When the body does not
have the help of insulin, the ketones build up in the
blood and then "spill" over into the urine so
that the body can get rid of them. The body can also rid
itself of one type of ketone, called acetone, through the
lungs. This gives the breath a fruity odor. Ketones that
build up in the body for a long time lead to serious
illness and coma. See also: Diabetic ketoacidosis.
Ketonuria
Having ketone bodies in
the urine; a warning sign of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Ketosis
A condition of having
ketone bodies build up in body tissues and fluids. The
signs of ketosis are nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.
Ketosis can lead to ketoacidosis.
Kidney Disease
Any one of several
chronic conditions that are caused by damage to the cells
of the kidney. People who have had diabetes for a long
time may have kidney damage. Also called nephropathy.
Kidneys
Two organs in the lower
back that clean waste and poisons from the blood. The
kidneys are shaped like two large beans, and they act as
the body's filter. They also control the level of some
chemicals in the blood such as hydrogen, sodium,
potassium, and phosphate.
Kidney Threshold
The point at which the
blood is holding too much of a substance such as glucose
(sugar) and the kidneys "spill" the excess sugar
into the urine. See also: Renal threshold.
Kussmaul
Breathing
The rapid, deep, and
labored breathing of people who have ketoacidosis or who
are in a diabetic coma. Kussmaul breathing is named for
Adolph Kussmaul, the 19th century German doctor who first
noted it. Also called "air hunger."
L
Labile Diabetes
A term used to indicate
when a person's blood glucose (sugar) level often swings
quickly from high to low and from low to high. Also called
brittle diabetes.
Lactic Acidosis
The buildup of lactic
acid in the body. The cells make lactic acid when they use
glucose (sugar) for energy. If too much lactic acid stays
in the body, the balance tips and the person begins to
feel ill. The signs of lactic acidosis are deep and rapid
breathing, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Lactic acidosis
may be caused by diabetic ketoacidosis or liver or kidney
disease.
Lactose
A type of sugar found in
milk and milk products (cheese, butter, etc.). It is
considered a nutritive sweetener because it has calories.
Lancet
A fine, sharp-pointed
blade or needle for pricking the skin.
Laser Treatment
Using a special strong
beam of light of one color (laser) to heal a damaged area.
A person with diabetes might be treated with a laser beam
to heal blood vessels in the eye. See also:
Photocoagulation.
Latent Diabetes
Former term for impaired
glucose tolerance. See also: Impaired glucose tolerance.
Lente Insulin
A type of insulin that is
intermediate-acting.
Limited Joint
Mobility
A form of arthritis
involving the hand; it causes the fingers to curve inward
and the skin on the palm to tighten and thicken. This
condition mainly affects people with IDDM.
Lipid
A term for fat. The body
stores fat as energy for future use just like a car that
has a reserve fuel tank. When the body needs energy, it
can break down the lipids into fatty acids and burn them
like glucose (sugar).
Lipoatrophy
Small dents in the skin
that form when a person keeps injecting the needle in the
same spot. See also: Lipodystrophy.
Lipodystrophy
Lumps or small dents in
the skin that form when a person keeps injecting the
needle in the same spot. Lipodystrophies are harmless.
People who want to avoid them can do so by changing
(rotating) the places where they inject their insulin.
Using purified insulins may also help. See also: Injection
site rotation.
M
Macroangiopathy
See: Angiopathy.
Macrosomia
Abnormally large; in
diabetes, refers to abnormally large babies that may be
born to women with diabetes.
Macrovascular
Disease
A disease of the large
blood vessels that sometimes occurs when a person has had
diabetes for a long time. Fat and blood clots build up in
the large blood vessels and stick to the vessel walls.
Three kinds of macrovascular disease are coronary disease,
cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease.
Macular Edema
A swelling (edema) in the
macula, an area near the center of the retina of the eye
that is responsible for fine or reading vision. Macular
edema is a common complication associated with diabetic
retinopathy. See also: Diabetic retinopathy; retina.
Maturity-Onset
Diabetes
Former term for
noninsulin-dependent or type II diabetes. See: Noninsulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus.
Meal Plan
A guide for controlling
the amount of calories, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats
a person eats. People with diabetes can use such plans as
the Exchange Lists or the Point System to help them plan
their meals so that they can keep their diabetes under
control. See also: Exchange lists; point system.
Metabolism
The term for the way
cells chemically change food so that it can be used to
keep the body alive. It is a two-part process. One part is
called catabolism-when the body uses food for energy. The
other is called anabolism-when the body uses food to build
or mend cells. Insulin is necessary for the metabolism of
food.
Metformin
A drug treatment for type
2 diabetes; belongs to a class of drugs called biguanides.
Mg/dL
Milligrams per deciliter.
Term used to describe how much glucose (sugar) is in a
specific amount of blood. In self-monitoring of blood
glucose, test results are given as the amount of glucose
in milligrams per deciliter of blood. A fasting reading of
70 to 110 mg/dL is considered in the normal (nondiabetic)
range.
Microaneurysm
A small swelling that
forms on the side of tiny blood vessels. These small
swellings may break and bleed into nearby tissue. People
with diabetes sometimes get microaneurysms in the retina
of the eye.
Microangiopathy
See: Angiopathy.
Microvascular
Disease
Disease of the smallest
blood vessels that sometimes occurs when a person has had
diabetes for a long time. The walls of the vessels become
abnormally thick but weak, and therefore they bleed, leak
protein, and slow the flow of blood through the body. Then
some cells, for example, the ones in the center of the
eye, may not get enough blood and may be damaged.
Mixed Dose
Combining two kinds of
insulin in one injection. A mixed dose commonly combines
regular insulin, which is fast acting, with a longer
acting insulin such as NPH. A mixed dose insulin schedule
may be prescribed to provide both short-term and long-term
coverage.
Mononeuropathy
A form of diabetic
neuropathy affecting a single nerve. The eye is a common
site for this form of nerve damage. See also: Neuropathy.
Morbidity Rate
The sickness rate; the
number of people who are sick or have a disease compared
with the number who are well.
Mortality Rate
The death rate; the
number of people who die of a certain disease compared
with the total number of people. Mortality is most often
stated as deaths per 1,000, per 10,000, or per 100,000
persons.
Myocardial
Infarction
Also called a heart
attack; results from permanent damage to an area of the
heart muscle. This happens when the blood supply to the
area is interrupted because of narrowed or blocked blood
vessels.
Myo-inositol
A substance in the cell
that is thought to play a role in helping the nerves to
work. Low levels of myo-inositol may be involved in
diabetic neuropathy.
N
National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
One of the 17 institutes
that make up the National Institutes of Health, an agency
of the Public Health Service.
Necrobiosis
Lipoidica Diabeticorum
A skin condition usually
on the lower part of the legs. The lesions can be small or
extend over a large area. They are usually raised, yellow,
and waxy in appearance and often have a purple border.
Young women are most often affected. This condition occurs
in people with diabetes, or it may be a sign of diabetes.
It also occurs in people who do not have diabetes.
Neovascularization
The term used when new,
tiny blood vessels grow in a new place, for example, out
from the retina. See also: Diabetic retinopathy.
Nephrologist
A doctor who sees and
treats people with kidney diseases.
Nephropathy
Disease of the kidneys
caused by damage to the small blood vessels or to the
units in the kidneys that clean the blood. People who have
had diabetes for a long time may have kidney damage.
Nerve Conduction
Studies
Tests to determine nerve
function; can detect early neuropathy.
Neurologist
A doctor who sees and
treats people with problems of the nervous system.
Neuropathy
Disease of the nervous
system. Many people who have had diabetes for a while have
nerve damage. The three major forms of nerve damage are:
peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, and
mononeuropathy. The most common form is peripheral
neuropathy, which mainly affects the feet and legs. See
also: Peripheral neuropathy; autonomic neuropathy;
mononeuropathy.
NIDDM
See: Noninsulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus.
Noninsulin-Dependent
Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)
The most common form of
diabetes mellitus; about 90 to 95 percent of people who
have diabetes have NIDDM. Unlike the insulin-dependent
type of diabetes, in which the pancreas makes no insulin,
people with noninsulin-dependent diabetes produce some
insulin, sometimes even large amounts. However, either
their bodies do not produce enough insulin or their body
cells are resistant to the action of insulin (see Insulin
Resistance). People with NIDDM can often control their
condition by losing weight through diet and exercise. If
not, they may need to combine insulin or a pill with diet
and exercise. Generally, NIDDM occurs in people who are
over age 40. Most of the people who have this type of
diabetes are overweight. Noninsulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus used to be called "adult-onset
diabetes," "maturity-onset diabetes,"
"ketosis-resistant diabetes," and "stable
diabetes." It is also called type II diabetes
mellitus.
Noninvasive Blood
Glucose Monitoring
A way to measure blood
glucose without having to prick the finger to obtain a
blood sample. Several noninvasive devices are currently
being developed.
Nonketotic Coma
A type of coma caused by
a lack of insulin. A nonketotic crisis means: (1) very
high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood; (2) absence
of ketoacidosis; (3) great loss of body fluid; and (4) a
sleepy, confused, or comatose state. Nonketotic coma often
results from some other problem such as a severe infection
or kidney failure.
NPH Insulin
A type of insulin that is
intermediate-acting.
Nutrition
The process by which the
body draws nutrients from food and uses them to make or
mend its cells.
Nutritionist
See: Dietitian.
O
Obesity
When people have 20
percent (or more) extra body fat for their age, height,
sex, and bone structure. Fat works against the action of
insulin. Extra body fat is thought to be a risk factor for
diabetes.
Obstetrician
A doctor who sees and
gives care to pregnant women and delivers babies.
OGTT
See: Oral glucose
tolerance test.
Ophthalmologist
A doctor who sees and
treats people with eye problems or diseases.
Optometrist
A person professionally
trained to test the eyes and to detect and treat eye
problems and some diseases by prescribing and adapting
corrective lenses and other optical aids and by suggesting
eye exercise programs.
Oral Glucose
Tolerance Test (OGTT)
A test to see if a person
has diabetes. See: Glucose tolerance test.
Oral Hypoglycemic
Agents
Pills or capsules that
people take to lower the level of glucose (sugar) in the
blood. The pills work for some people whose pancreas still
makes some insulin. They can help the body in several ways
such as causing the cells in the pancreas to release more
insulin.
Six types of these pills
are for sale in the United States. Four, known as
"first-generation" drugs, have been in use for
some time. Two types, called "second-generation"
drugs, have been developed recently. They are stronger
than first-generation drugs and have fewer side effects.
All oral hypoglycemic agents belong to a class of drugs
known as sulfonylureas. Each type of pill is sold under
two names: one is the generic name as listed by the Food
and Drug Administration; the other is the trade name given
by the manufacturer. They are:
First-Generation
Agents:
Generic Name:
Tolbutamide
Trade Name: Orinase
Generic Name:
Acetohexamide
Trade Name: Dymelor
Generic Name:
Tolazamide
Trade Name: Tolinase
Generic Name:
Chloropropamide
Trade Name: Diabinese
Second-Generation
Agents:
Generic Name:
Glipizide Trade Name: Glucotrol
Generic Name:
Glyburide Trade Name: Diabeta, Micronase
Overt Diabetes
Diabetes in the person
who shows clear signs of the disease such as a great
thirst and the need to urinate often.
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