Articles Index
Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) Definition
Definition of Continuous Glucose Monitor and its functions.
Macrosomia Definition
Learn more about macrosomia, a complication that women with gestational diabetes or women with preexisting type 2 diabetes in pregnancy are at higher risk for.
Islets of Langerhans Definition
Read a definition of Islets of Langerhans - their function in the pancreas and how they relate to type 2 diabetes.
Pancreas Defintion
Defintion of location and function of the pancreas and how it relates to type 2 diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes Definition
Definition of gestational diabetes, the most common problem encountered in pregnancy.
Insulin Resistance Definition
Definition of insulin resistance, a condition that plays a large part in the development of prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other metabolic diseases.
eAG
The abbreviation eAG stands for estimated Average Glucose. This is another way to express HbA1c or A1c results.
Endocrinologist
An endocrinologist is a doctor who specializes in the health of the endocrine system. They diagnose and treat hormone imbalances.
Dietitian
A dietitian is not the same as a nutritionist. While nutritionists also may be health care professionals who specialize in food, diet, and health management...
Diabetes Educator
A certified diabetes educator (CDE) is a health care professional who has been trained and certified to teach patients how to manage diabetes.
Definition of Proteinuria
Proteinuria literally means "protein in the urine". When kidneys are healthy, protein molecules can't pass through the delicate filtration system. When that filtration system becomes damaged, protein can move through the kidneys and shows up in the urine.
Creatinine
Creatinine
BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)
BUN (blood urea nitrogen) is a marker of kidney function. When blood flows through the body, protein circulates to cells. Cells use the protein and throw away the waste that they don't need. This waste is called urea. Normally urea is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. Urea also contains nitrogen. If the kidneys aren't working like they should, urea and nitrogen stay in the blood. A BUN of over 20 mg/dl is an indicator of decreased kidney function.
Nephrologist
A nephrologist is a doctor who specializes in kidney health and kidney disease. A nephrologist can diagnose and treat kidney failure, and can help people in kidney failure by prescribing medications, offering special diet advice, and coordinating dialysis care when the time comes. People with diabetes may have long-term complications that involve kidney disease and eventual failure. A nephrologist is an important member of your personal healthcare team, if you have symptoms of kidney disease.
Dialysis
Dialysis is a medical process that is used when a person's kidneys are damaged and can no longer filter toxins from the blood. There are two kinds of dialysis.
Edema
Edema is the swelling that can occur, usually in the legs, ankles and feet, when watery fluid collects in the spaces between the cells. This can happen in a variety of medical conditions, such as heart, kidney or liver failure. There are also benign forms of edema that can occur with prolonged standing or sitting, and is more common with pregnancy or in older people.
Euglycemia
Euglycemia describes a normal level of glucose in the blood. Glucose is necessary for the body, especially the brain, to function properly.
Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults - LADA
Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults
Fructosamine Test
The fructosamine test is similar to the A1c test. It measures blood glucose levels over a length of time. The difference between the two tests is that the fructosamine test measures blood glucose levels of two or three weeks, rather than two or three months. It is used when doctors want to keep a closer eye on blood sugar levels, for example, if there have been changes made in medications or insulin schedule, or during pregnancy.
Fiber
Fiber is an important part of a healthy diet. But what is it, exactly? Fiber is the undigestible material in the fruits, vegetables and whole grains that we eat. There are two kinds of fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves in the intestines, making a gel-like substance that helps with the digestive process. Insoluble fiber moves through the intestines virtually intact, adding bulk to stool and moving things along through the intestines.
Autonomic Neuropathy
Neuropathy is a complication of diabetes. Most people think of neuropathy as nerve damage to hands, feet and lower legs. There are nerves in almost every part of the body. Autonomic neuropathy strikes organs in the body which are rich in nerve endings, for example, the heart, or lungs. It will also affect the digestive organs including the stomach and intestines, and the urinary and reproductive systems which includes the bladder, kidneys and reproductive organs.
Brittle Diabetes
Brittle diabetes, also called labile diabetes, is a term used to describe hard-to-control swings in blood glucose levels.
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
C-reactive protein (CRP) is found in the blood and is a response to inflammation in the body. It can also be an indicator of the presence of infection, trauma or serious illness. Chronic inflammation can keep CRP levels elevated which can increase the risk of cardiovascular conditions such as heart attacks or stroke.
Glycemic Index and Diabetes
The glycemic index is a method of rating foods by how much they raise blood glucose. The glycemic index uses a scale from 1 to 100, with high glycemic numbers indicating foods that raise blood sugar higher and faster than foods with low glycemic numbers.
Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)is a condition that happens when there is too much glucose circulating in the blood. In a person without diabetes, insulin produced by the body lowers blood glucose levels. Hyperglycemia occurs in diabetes because either the body doesn't produce any insulin (type 1) or the insulin that is produced is ineffective (type 2).