There are times in my blog that I refer to different terms do I thought I'd make a dictionary of the diabetes lingo we use on here.
D-Mom: A mother of a Type 1 diabetic child.
D-Parent: A parent of a Type 1 diabetic child.
D-Peep: A person with Type 1 diabetes.
Endo or Endocrinologist: Kacey's diabetes doctor
DOC: Diabetes Online Community
Type 1 diabetes: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. While diagnosis most often occurs in childhood and adolescence, it can and does strike adults as well, and lasts a lifetime. To stay alive, people with type 1 diabetes must take multiple injections of insulin daily or continually infuse insulin through a pump, and test their blood sugar six or more times per day. While trying to balance insulin doses with their food intake and daily activities, people with this form of diabetes must always be prepared for serious hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic reactions, both of which can be life-limiting and life threatening. Insulin is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent possible devastating complications which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation.
A1c: In the simplest terms, hemoglobin A1C (known as HbA1c or A1C) is measured in people with diabetes to provide an index of average blood glucose for the previous three to four months.
Pancreas: A fish-shaped spongy grayish-pink organ about 6 inches (15 cm) long that stretches across the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach. The head of the pancreas is on the right side of the abdomen and is connected to the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine). The narrow end of the pancreas, called the tail, extends to the left side of the body. The pancreas makes pancreatic juices and hormones, including insulin. The pancreatic juices are enzymes that help digest food in the small intestine. Insulin controls the amount of sugar in the blood.
Insulin Pump: The insulin pump is a medical device used for the administration of insulin in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, also known as continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy. The device includes:
the pump itself (including controls, processing module, and batteries)
a disposable reservoir for insulin (inside the pump)
a disposable infusion set, including a cannula for subcutaneous insertion (under the skin) and a tubing system to interface the insulin reservoir to the cannula.
An insulin pump is an alternative to multiple daily injections of insulin by insulin syringe or an insulin pen and allows for intensive insulin therapy when used in conjunction with blood glucose monitoring and carb counting.
Infusion Set: An infusion set is used with an insulin pump as part of intensive insulin therapy. The purpose of an infusion set is to deliver insulin under the skin. It is a complete tubing system to connect an insulin pump to the pump user: it includes a subcutaneous cannula, adhesive mount, quick-disconnect, and a pump cartridge connector.
Goober: The name of Kacey's insulin pump.
Novolog: a rapid acting insulin that is administered through Kacey's insulin pump each time food is consumed.
Hyperglycemia: Also known as high blood sugar, is a condition in which an excessive amount of glucose circulates in the blood plasma. This is generally a glucose level higher than 180 mg/dl, but symptoms may not start to become noticeable until even higher values such as 270-360 mg/dl.
Hypoglycemia: is the medical term for a state produced by a lower than normal level of blood glucose. The term literally means "under-sweet blood". It can produce a variety of symptoms and effects but the principal problems arise from an inadequate supply of glucose to the brain, resulting in impairment of function (neuroglycopenia). Effects can range from mild dysphoria to more serious issues such as seizures, unconsciousness, and permanent brain damage or death.
Reactive Hypoglycemia: this occurs in people who do not have diabetes. It's a different type of hypoglycemia than the one that affects people who have diabetes. Although the causes are unrelated, the symptoms of both kinds of hypoglycemia are the same.
High Blood Sugar: for Kacey a high is anything over 150 mg/dl
Low Blood Sugar: for Kacey a low is anything under 80 mg/dl
Target Blood Sugar: Kaceys target is 150 mg/dl
Safe Sugar Zone: Kacey's safe zone is 80 mg/dl to 180 mg/dl
Pump Pack: this is what Kacey wears around her waist to hold her insulin pump.
JDRF: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Rufus: the diabetes bear given to Kacey by JDRF.
