Quiz 6: Diabetes Mellitus
Alkalosis- abnormally high alkalinity (low hydrogenion concentration) of the
blood and other body tissues (pH above 7.45)
Atrophy- to waste away
Cataract- clouding of the natural lens of the eye
Diabetes mellitus (DM)- a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has
high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or
because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced
Diabetic coma- a loss of consciousness due to uncontrolled diabetes and the
resulting buildup of toxic ketones in the blood
Endocrinology- the branch of medicine dealing with the endocrine glands and
their hormone secretions
Fasting blood (serum) sugar or glucose- FBS, FBG
Fasting blood glucose- Test that measures blood glucose levels after a 12-hour
fast
Fasting blood sugar- blood test to determine the amount of glucose int he blood
after fasting for 8 to 10 hours
Gangrene- the localized death of living cells/tissue (as from infection or the
interruption of blood supply)
Gastroparesis- Loss of motility of the stomach muscles, occurring as a long-term
secondary complication of diabetes mellitus. (delayed gastric emptying)
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)- inability to produce enough insulin to
maintain normal glucose levels during pregnancy
Glaucoma- increased pressure in the eyeball due to obstruction of the outflow of
aqueous humor
Glucagon- a hormone secreted by the pancreas EX. stimulates increases in blood
sugar levels in the blood (thus opposing the action of insulin)
Gluconeogenesis- The formation of glycogen, a glucose storing compound, from
fatty acids and proteins rather than carbohydrates.
Glucose tolerance factor- a biologically active complex of chromium and
nicotinic acid that facilitates the reaction of insulin with receptor sites on tissues.
Glyco- sugar
Glycogenolysis- breakdown of glycogen to glucose
Glycosuria- the presence of abnormally high levels of sugar in the urine
Glycosylated hemoglobin- form of hemoglobin that is measured primarily to
identify the average plasma glucose concentration over prolonged periods of
time
Hyperglycemia- a condition in which an excessive amount of glucose circulates
in the blood plasma. This is generally a glucose level higher than (200 mg/dl
Hyperinsulinism- condition resulting from an excessive amount of insulin in the
blood that draws sugar out of the bloodstream, resulting in hypoglycemia,
fainting, and convulsions; often caused by an overdose of insulin or by a tumor of
the pancreas
Hypoglycemia- an abnormally diminished content of glucose in the blood.[1]
The term literally means "low sugar blood." The most common forms of
hypoglycemia occur as a complication of treatment of diabetes mellitus with
insulin or oral medications. Hypoglycemia is less common in nondiabetic
persons, but can occur at any age. Among the causes are excessive insulin
produced in the body (hyperinsulinemia).
Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)- blood glucose levels higher than normal but
not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes; sometimes called prediabetes.
Insulin Resistance- unresponsiveness of cells to the effect of insulin, reducing
their ability to absorb glucose, resulting in hyperglycemia
Insulin shock- excessive insulin to induce convulsions and coma
Islets of Langerhans- Also called simply, "islet cells" these are the endocrine
cells of the pancreas. Different cell types within the inslets secrete insulin,
glucagon, and somatostatin
Keto- ketone group
Ketoacidosis- presence of an abnormal amount of ketone bodies in the blood
and urine indicating an abnormal utilization of carbohydrates as seen in
uncontrolled diabetes and starvation
Ketone bodies- the product of the incomplete breakdown of fat when glucose is
not available in the cells
Ketosis- condition resulting from uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, in which the
body has an abnormal concentration of ketone bodies
Ketouria- high levels of ketone bodies in urine
Lipodystrophy- a medical condition characterized by abnormal or degenerative
conditions of the body's adipose tissue
Macrovascular disease- It is a disease of the large blood vessels, including the
coronary arteries, the aorta, and the sizable arteries in the brain and in the limbs.
This 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.
Microvascular disease- very small branches of arteries throughout the body
become damaged due to diabetic neuropathy and/or diabetic nephropathy, can
lead to diabetic retinopathy
Nephropathy- a disease affecting the kidneys
Neuropathy- any disease of the nerves
Nocto- night
Nocturia- excessive urination at night
Oral hypoglycemic agents- Medications taken by mouth that cause a decrease
in blood sugar; not used for insulin-dependent patients.
Osteopenia- thinner than average bone density in a young person
Pancreas- located partially behind the stomach in the abdomen, and it functions
as both an endocrine and exocrine gland. It produces digestive enzymes as well
as insulin and glucagon
Phago- eating, ingestion
Polydypsia- excessive thirst
Polyphagia- excessive hunger and eating
Polyuria- frequent urination
Reactive hypoglycemia or postprandial syndrome- occurs when pancreas
secretes too much insulin after a high-carbohydrate meal
Retinopathy- Disease of the retina
Selfmonitoring of blood glucose- SMBG
Type 1Diabetes Mellitus- diabetes in which there is no beta cell production of
insulin--the patient is dependent on insulin for survival
Type II Diabetes- mild form of diabetes mellitus that develops gradually in
adults; the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin.
Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy
Uro- urine