Diabetes Words to Know

• Definition: Autoimmunity

  Sometimes the immune system makes a mistake and attacks the body’s own tissues or organs. This is called autoimmunity.

• Definition: Beta Cells

  Beta cells are cells that make insulin.

• Definition: Blood Glucose Level

  The blood glucose level is the amount of glucose in the blood.

• Definition: Blood Glucose Meter

  A blood glucose meter is a small, portable machine that’s used to measure how much glucose (a type of sugar) is in the blood.

• Definition: Bolus

  For a person with diabetes, a bolus is a dose of insulin taken to handle a rise in blood glucose.

• Definition: Diabetes

  Diabetes is a condition that happens when the body can’t use glucose (a type of sugar) normally.

• Definition: Fats

  The body uses fat as a fuel source, and fat is the major storage form of energy in the body.

• Definition: Fatty Acids

  Fatty acids are the building blocks of the fat in our bodies and in the food we eat.

• Definition: Glucose

  Glucose is the main type of sugar in the blood and is the major source of energy for the body’s cells.

• Definition: Glycosylated Hemoglobin Test (Hemoglobin A1c)

  The glycosylated hemoglobin test shows what a person’s average blood glucose level was for the 2 to 3 months before the test. This can help determine how well a person’s diabetes is being controlled over time.