$Title{Glossary}


     Adult-onset diabetes--Former name for non-insulin-dependent diabetes
     Angiopathy--A disease of the blood vessels
     Atherosclerosis--A condition in which fat and clotted blood builds up in
the large-and medium-sized arteries
     Beta cells--The cells of the pancreas that produce insulin
     Blood-glucose monitoring--A method of checking how much blood sugar
(glucose) is in the blood
     Carbohydrate--One of the three main classes of food and a source of
energy
     Cholesterol--A fatlike substance that is found in food and is made by the
body
     Circulation--The flow of blood within the body
     Diabetes mellitus--A disease that occurs when the body is not able to use
sugar for energy as it should Fats--One of the three main classes of foods;
can be either saturated, monunsaturated or polyunsaturated
     Gestational diabetes mellitus--A type of diabetic mellitus that occurs
when a woman is pregnant
     Glucagon--A hormone that raises blood-sugar levels, sometimes used to
treat insulin reactions
     Glucose--A simple sugar found in the blood, serving as the body's main
source of energy
     Hormone--A chemical within the body that acts as a messenger, telling
cells what to do
     Hyperglycemia-- High blood-sugar levels
     Hypoglycemia--Low blood-sugar levels
     Insulin--The hormone the body uses to regulate blood sugar and allow it
into the cells
     Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus--Chronic condition where the pancreas
does not make enough insulin
     Insulin reaction--Effects of too much insulin, causing very low
blood-sugar levels
     lslets of Langerhans--The groups of cells within the pancreas that
contain the beta cells that make insulin
     Ketoacidosis--The buildup of ketones in the blood due to poorly
controlled diabetes; can lead to coma and death
     Lancet--Sharp instrument used for pricking skin
     Maturity-onset diabetes--Former name for non-insulin-dependent diabetes
     Nephropathy--Disease or damage of the kidneys
     Neuropathy--Disease or damage of the nervous system
     Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus--A form of diabetes where the
body is resistant to insulin
     Oral hypoglycemic agents--Medications used to control blood-sugar levels
     Pancreas--The organ that makes insulin; it is found behind and under the
stomach
     Pre-eclampsia--A condition during pregnancy marked by high blood pressure
and water retention
     Protein--One of the three main classes of foods
     Retina--The inside layer of the back of the eyeball that senses light
     Retinopathy--Disease or damage to the retina
     Sugar--A type of simple carbohydrate that tastes sweet
     Sulfonylureas--Oral hypoglycemic agents
     Type I diabetes--Insulin-dependent diabetes
     Type 11 diabetes--Non-insulin-dependent diabetes
     Urine testing--Checking urine for glucose and ketones as a way of
monitoring blood-glucose levels
     Vitrectomy--Removal of the clear jellylike fluid from the eye after it
has become clouded due to bleeding
