Diabetes

Question 1

A1C

Answer 1

Test that measures a person’s average blood glucose level over the last 2 to 3 months. Hemoglobin is the part of a red bold cell that carries oxygen to the cells and sometimes joins with the glucose in the bloodstream. Shows the amount of glucose that sticks to the red blood cell, which is proportional to the amount of glucose in the blood

Question 2

Acanthosis Nigricans

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Acute

Answer 3

Something that happens suddenly and for a short time. Opposite of chronic

Question 4

Albuminuria

Answer 4

A condition in which the urine has more than normal amounts of a protein called albumin. May be a sign of nephropathy (kidney disease)

Question 5

Atherosclerosis

Answer 5

Clogging, narrowing and hardening of the body’s large arteries and medium sized vessels. Can lead to stroke, heart attack, eye problems and kidney problems

Question 6

Coronary heart disease (CHD)

Answer 6

Heart disease caused by narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. If the blood supply is cut off it results in a heart attack

Question 7

Diabetes mellitus

Answer 7

A condition characterized by hyperglycemia resulting of the body’s inability to use blood glucose for energy

Question 8

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)

Answer 8

Emergency condition in which extremely high blood glucose levels, along with a severe lack of insulin, result in the breakdown of body fat for energy and an accumulation of ketones in the blood and urine. Signs of DKA are nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, fruity breath odor, and rapid breathing. Left untreated can result in coma or death.

Question 9

Diabetic retinopathy

Answer 9

Diabetic eye disease. Damage to small retinal blood vessels. Loss of vision may result

Question 10

Fasting blood glucose test

Answer 10

Check of a person’s blood glucose level after the person has not eaten for 8-12 hours overnight. Used to diagnose and monitor pre diabetes and diabetes

Question 11

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)

Answer 11

Type of diabetes mellitus that develops only during pregnancy and usually disappears upon delivery. Increases risk of diabetes for mother later. Managed with meal planning, activity, and sometimes insulin

Question 12

Glomerular filtration rate

Answer 12

Measure of the kidneys ability to filter and remove waste products

Question 13

Glomerulus

Answer 13

Tiny set of looping blood vessels in the kidney where the blood is filtered and waste products are removed

Question 14

Glucagon

Answer 14

Hormone produced by the alpha cells in the pancreas. Raises blood glucose. Injectable form available by rx to treat hypoglycemia

Question 15

Glucose

Answer 15

One of the simplest forms of sugar

Question 16

HDL cholesterol (high density lipoprotein cholesterol)

Answer 16

A fat found in the blood that takes extra cholesterol from the blood to the liver for removal. “Good” cholesterol

Question 17

Hormone

Answer 17

A chemical produced in one part of the body and released into the blood to trigger or regulate particular functions of the body. Synthetic hormones made for use as medicines can be the same or different from those made in the body

Question 18

Hyperglycemia

Answer 18

Excessive blood glucose. Fasting hyperglycemia is blood glucose above a desirable level after a person has fasted for at least 8 hours. Postprandial hyperglycemia is blood glucose above a desirable level 1-2 hours after a person has eaten

Question 19

Hyperinsulinemia

Answer 19

Condition in which the level of insulin in the blood is higher than normal. Caused by overproduction of insulin by the body. Related to insulin resistance

Question 20

Hyperlipidemia

Answer 20

Higher than normal fat and cholesterol levels in the blood

Question 21

Hypertension

Answer 21

Condition present when blood flows through the blood vessels with a force greater than normal. Also called high blood pressure

Question 22

Hypoglycemia

Answer 22

Condition that occurs when one’s blood glucose is lower than normal, usually less than 70 mg/dL. Signs include hunger, nervousness, shakiness, perspiration, dizziness, or light headedness, sleepiness and confusion. Left untreated can lead to unconsciousness. Treated by consuming juice or carb rich food or injection of glucagon

Question 23

Impaired fasting glucose (IFG)

Answer 23

A condition in which a blood glucose test, taken after an 8-12 hour fast shows a level of glucose higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. IFG is also called pre diabetes with a level of 100 mg/dL to 125 mg/dL.

Question 24

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)

Answer 24

Condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but are not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. IGT is also called prediabetes at 140-199 mg/dL 2 hours after the start of an oral glucose tolerance test

Question 25

Insulin resistance

Answer 25

Body’s inability to respond and use the insulin it produces. May be linked to obesity, hypertension, and high levels of fat in the blood

Question 26

Kidney failure

Answer 26

Chronic condition in which the body retains fluid and harmful wastes build up because the kidneys no longer work properly. Person with this needs dialysis or kidney transplant. Also called end stage renal disease

Question 27

LDL cholesterol (low density lipoprotein cholesterol)

Answer 27

A fat found in the blood that takes cholesterol around the body to where it is needed for cell repair and also deposits it on the inside of artery walls. Sometimes called “bad” cholesterol

Question 28

mg/dL

Answer 28

Milligrams per decileter. Unit of measure that shows the concentration of a substance in a specific amount of fluid

Question 29

Microalbumin

Answer 29

Small amounts of the protein called albumin in the urine detectable with a special lab test

Question 30

Microalbuminuria

Answer 30

Presence of small amounts of albumin, a protein, in the urine. Early sign of kidney damage. Common complication of diabetes. Managed by improving blood glucose control, reducing blood pressure, and modifying diet

Question 31

Microvascular disease

Answer 31

Disease of the smallest blood vessels, such as those found in the eyes, nerves, and kidneys. The walls of the vessels become abnormally thick but weak. Then they bleed, leak protein, and slow the flow of blood to the cells

Question 32

Oral glucose tolerance test

Answer 32

Test to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes. The oral glucose tolerance test is given by a healthcare professional after an overnight fast.

Question 33

Pre diabetes

Answer 33

A condition in which flood glucose levels are higher than normal but are not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. People with pre diabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes and for heart disease and stroke. Other names for pre diabetes are impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose

Question 34

Stroke

Answer 34

Condition caused by damage to blood vessels in the brain; may cause loss of ability to speak or to move parts of the body