Diabetes terminology and jargon can be confusing, so we have compiled a dictionary if you need to find out what something means. We hope you find this useful and if there is something missing then do let us know and we can add it to the dictionary.
Acanthosis nigricans
Acanthosis nigricans is the name for dry, dark patches of skin. The most common places for these to appear are in the armpits, neck or groin. Depending on your natural skin tone, the patches may appear yellowish and be confused with sweat marks. The darkened skin can also have a soft, smooth texture. Some people also have tiny growths (skin tags) on the patches. Acanthosis Nigricans is a physical sign of insulin resistance. The patches can fade when the insulin resistance is treated.
Albuminuria
Albuminuria is a warning sign for kidney disease.
BMI centiles
BMI centiles are the lines on a BMI chart. They give an indication of where a child or young person’s BMI is in relation to their age and other people their age.
Body mass index (bmi)
Body mass index (bmi) is a measure of someone’s size based on their weight and height. It is used to determine whether someone is a healthy weight for their height. Because people’s weight varies depending on what gender and age they are, BMI is a better measure of whether your body is carrying the right weight for your skeleton, or too much or too little. BMI is not a measure of body fat, so the BMI cannot tell the difference between excess fat, muscle or bone.
Calories (kcal)
Calories (kcal) are units of energy contained within the food you eat. Calories from carbohydrates are particularly important. Carbs have an instant effect on blood sugar, and this can have serious consequences for diabetes management.
Be aware of what you eat, particularly portion sizes.
Carbohydrate (carbs)
Carbohydrate (carbs) Many of us rely on carbohydrates as our main source of energy.
All the carbohydrates you eat and drink are broken down into glucose. The type, and amount, you consume can make a difference to your blood glucose levels and diabetes management. There are complex carbohydrates contained in foods such as bread, potatoes, couscous, rice, pasta, cereals, plantain, milk, yoghurts, and fruits, but more refined carbohydrates in sugary foods such as cake, biscuits, desserts, sweets and fizzy drinks
Central adiposity
Central adiposity is a term that refers to the fat in your abdomen around your middle. A practical estimate of central adiposity is your waist circumference. Keeping your waist circumference to half of your height helps to reduce health risks such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension or cardiovascular disease.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance which is vital for the normal functioning of the body. Cholesterol levels in the blood should be within a particular range and excessively high levels of cholesterol can contribute towards diabetes complications.
Diabetes mellitus (diabetes)
A condition where the amount of glucose in your blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Diabetic Ketoacidosis is a serious condition that can occur in people with diabetes due to a severe lack of insulin. This can happen when a person is first diagnosed with diabetes if it is not picked up in the very early stages. It can also happen later on if insulin is not given as needed or during episodes of other illnesses.
Glucose
A blood sugar which acts as a major energy source for the body
Glycaemic Index
The glycaemic index (GI) tells us whether a food raises blood glucose levels quickly, moderately or slowly. This means it can be useful to help you manage your diabetes. Different carbohydrates are digested and absorbed at different rates, and GI is a ranking of how quickly each carbohydrate-based food and drink makes blood glucose levels rise after eating them. Aim to eat foods with a low GI that cause your glucose to rise slowly.
HbA1c (Glycated Haemoglobin)
HbA1c (Glycated Haemoglobin) is a test usually done and discussed at your clinic appointment. It is a measure that is related to your average blood glucose levels over the two to three months before the test was done. It is recommended that all children and young people should aim for as low an HbA1c level as possible, with a target of 48 mmol/mol or lower. High HbA1c levels indicate high blood glucose levels and increase the risk of developing diabetes related complications
Hyperglycaemia
Hyperglycaemia (Hyper) is when blood glucose levels are higher than they should be.
Hyperosmolar Hyperglycaemic State (HHS)
Hyperosmolar Hyperglycaemic State (HHS) a life-threatening emergency that only happens in people with type 2 diabetes. It is brought on by severe dehydration and very high blood sugars.
Hypertension
Hypertension is another word for high blood pressure. It rarely has noticeable symptoms, but if your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes. If it is untreated, it increases your risk of serious problems when you are older such as heart attacks and strokes.
Hypoglycaemia
Hypoglycaemia (Hypo) is when blood glucose levels are lower than they should be.
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone that controls sugar levels in the body. It is produced by the pancreas.
Insulin helps your body use glucose to make energy. Without enough insulin, or insulin that doesn’t work properly, your glucose (or sugar) levels rise in your blood and you develop diabetes. Not all people with type 2 will need insulin as medication.
Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance is a condition linked to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance means your body is unable to respond to the amount of the hormone insulin it is producing. As a result your pancreas makes even more and you have high insulin levels in your blood.
Ketones
A ketone is a chemical substance that the body makes when it does not have enough insulin in the blood. It comes from the breakdown of fat.
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic Syndrome is a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.
Neuropathy
Neuropathy is one of the long-term complications of diabetes.
Over time, high blood glucose levels can damage the small blood vessels that supply the nerves in your body. This stops essential nutrients reaching the nerves. As a result, the nerve fibres can become damaged. You can avoid peripheral neuropathy by keeping your blood sugar levels within your target range, which will help protect the blood vessels that supply your nerves. You should also check your feet everyday and have your feet checked by a healthcare professional once a year.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) occurs when you have too much fat in your liver.
The liver is a very active organ, taking food directly from the gut and processing fat, carbohydrates and protein into energy and other proteins. In some people there is an imbalance in this process. This may result in too much fat coming into the liver cell, causing a change in the cells’ ability to process (metabolise) or transport the fats/carbohydrates elsewhere, and storing them in the liver instead.
In some people, the liver cells simply accumulate fat droplets that do not irritate their liver. However, in others, the fat droplets act like splinters and cause an inflammatory response leading to the formation of scars. Your healthcare team may want to scan your liver to make sure you haven’t developed any scars. If NAFLD is found early, it can be reversed by changing what you eat and increasing activity levels.
Obesity
Obesity is a medical term to describe being very overweight. There are different degrees of being overweight and obesity and in a young person under the age of 18 years. Your diabetes team will be able to explain this to you using your growth chart.
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) Sleep apnoea happens if your airways become too narrow while you sleep, often picked up by snoring. This stops you breathing properly and results in restless sleep. This can lead to tiredness which can affect your school performance. Sleep apnoea if untreated can lead to high blood pressure, and changes in your mood and energy levels.
Pancreas
The pancreas is an organ in your abdomen. It sits just behind your stomach and is about the size of your hand. The pancreas helps your digestive system by making hormones. One of these hormones is insulin
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Symptoms of PCOS can be irregular periods or no periods at all. Other features include excessive hair growth (this can be on the face), weight gain, hair loss and acne. It is related to abnormal hormone levels in the body, including high levels of insulin.
Many girls and young women with PCOS are resistant to the action of insulin in their body and produce higher levels of insulin to overcome this. This contributes to the increased production and activity of hormones like testosterone.
Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that people living with diabetes are more at risk of developing. A retinopathy screen is an important annual health check for anyone 12 years and over, as if problems are spotted in time, before you notice any changes in your sight, they can be reversed by keeping blood glucose levels and blood pressure within the target range.
Striae
This is another word for stretch marks. These can occur when you grow very rapidly. When you stop growing rapidly, eventually these marks can fade and turn from red and purple in colour to a silvery skin tone.
Type 2 Diabetes
This is the most common form of diabetes in the world, particularly in adults. In the early stages of the condition, lots of insulin is made, but it does not work well, so blood glucose levels rise. It is now starting to be seen in young people, usually those with a family history of T2 diabetes and those with an Asian or Afro Caribbean background. Being overweight and doing little physical activity also contribute to risk of T2 diabetes. Treatment for young people under 18y involves weight management, increased activity, and tablets to manage glucose levels. If this is not successful, insulin may have to be started.
Urinary Albumin
Urinary Albumin a test to check urine for the presence of a protein called albumin. Albumin can leak into the urine when the kidney is damaged – this is known as albuminuria.