| Common Diabetes Terminology | Easy Explanation |
|---|---|
| Auto immune disease | A disorder in which the body's immune system destroys body tissue believing it is a foreign substance. |
| Basal insulin | Refers to background insulin that is normally produced by the pancreas and it remains available all the time irrespective of whether a person eats food or not. |
| Beta cells | Cells that produce insulin. Beta cells are located in the pancreas. |
| Blood glucose | Also known as blood sugar. It is the main type of sugar found in the blood. |
| Blood glucose level | Amount of glucose in the blood at a particular time. It is measured in two types of units, mmol per litre (mmol/L) and milligram per decilitre (mg/dl). In NZ and Australia, mmol/L is the standard unit used to measure blood glucose levels. |
| BMI | Body Mass Index. It is a measure to evaluate body weight relative to a person's height. It is commonly used to understand if a person is overweight, underweight or normal weight. |
| Bolus insulin | Additional insulin supplied by the pancreas when glucose is taken in through food. The amount of carbohydrate in the food determines the quantity of bolus insulin produced by the pancreas. |
| Carbohydrates | It is one of the three main nutrients in food; the other two are proteins and fat. |
| Carb counting | A way of planning meals based on the amount of carbohydrates in grams. |
| Cardiovascular disease | Disease of the heart and blood vessels. |
| Chronic disease or condition | A disease or condition that is persistent and has long lasting effects. |
| Endocrine gland | A group of cells in the body that produces hormones. The islets of pancreas that produce insulin are types of endocrine glands. |
| Glucose | One of the simplest forms of sugar. |
| HbA1c | It is a test to measure a person's average blood glucose levels over the past 2 to 3 months. |
| Hyperglycaemia | Higher than normal blood glucose levels. |
| Hypoglycaemia | Lower than normal blood glucose levels. |
| Insulin | A hormone that helps the body use glucose for energy. |
| Pancreas | An organ that makes insulin and other digestive enzymes. |
| SMBG | Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose. |
I have Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes means higher than normal blood glucose levels during pregnancy or simply, diabetes in pregnancy.
What is HbA1c?
The HbA1c test is a measure of an average blood glucose (average blood sugar) level over the previous few months.
I have Pre-Diabetes
Pre-diabetes is when the blood glucose (blood sugar) levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.