DIABETES VIDEO PLAYLIST

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Diabetes

Clinical Diabetes Terminology and Plain Language Translations

The following list represents clinical terms that are commonly used when referencing diabetes care and alternative terms or language that might be when communicating with patients.

Clinical Terminology	Plain Language Translation
A1C	A1C Test that measures average blood sugar levels over past 2-3 months
Acute	Sudden and for a short time
Anemia	Low red blood cell count
Atherosclerosis	Clogging, narrowing, and hardening of the arteries
Autoimmune disease	Condition, such as diabetes, in which the body’s immune system attacks itself
Blood glucose	Blood sugar
Bolus (of insulin)	Extra dose of insulin to cover an expected rise in blood sugar
Carbohydrate	Sugar
Cardiac	Related to the heart
Cholesterol	Fat that circulates in the blood, which is produced by the liver and found in some food
Chronic	Long-lasting
Congestive heart failure	Loss of the heart’s ability to pump blood, resulting in fluid build-up
Dehydration	Loss of too much of body fluid, through urinating, sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea
Diabetes mellitus	Condition in which the body can no longer make or use insulin to manage blood sugar
Dialysis	Artificial removal of waste from the blood, which is necessary when the kidneys fail
Edema	Swelling in the body caused by a build-up of fluid
Gangrene	Death of body tissue often caused by infection that can lead to amputation
Gastroparesis	Condition of the stomach in which digestion is slowed or incomplete
Gestational diabetes mellitus	Diabetes associated with pregnancy
Glaucoma	Increased pressure in the eye that can lead to blindness
Glucagon	Hormone produced by the pancreas that raises blood sugar
Hepatic	Related to the liver
Hypercholesterolemia	High cholesterol
Hyperglycemia	High blood sugar
Hyperinsulinemia	High insulin in the blood
Hyperlipidemia	High cholesterol and fat in the blood
Hypertension	High blood pressure
Hypoglycemia	Low blood sugar
Hypotension	Low blood pressure
Insulin	Hormone produced by the pancreas that helps the body use sugar in the blood
Myocardial infarction	Heart attack
Nephropathy	Kidney, or renal, disease
Neuropathy	Disease of the nerves or nervous system
Periodontal disease	Disease of the gums
Peripheral vascular disease	Disease involving blockage of large blood vessels located in the arms, legs, and feet
Polydipsia	Excessive thirst, often caused by diabetes mellitus
Polyphagia	Excessive hunger, often caused by diabetes mellitus
Polyuria	Excessive need to urinate, often caused by diabetes mellitus
Postprandial blood glucose	Blood sugar level taken 1-2 hours following a meal
Preprandial blood glucose	Blood sugar level taken before a meal
Proteinuria	Presence of protein in the urine, which may signal kidney dysfunction
Renal	Related to the kidneys
Retinopathy	Disease of the eyes
Stroke	Disease associated with damage to the blood vessels in the brain
Triglyceride	Storage form of fat in the blood
Type 1 diabetes mellitus	Formerly juvenile diabetes, insulin-dependent diabetes
Type 2 diabetes mellitus	Formerly adult-onset diabetes, noninsulin-dependent diabetes
Uremia	Condition in which urea builds up in the blood, which may signal kidney dysfunction

Adapted from:

Common Terms. American Diabetes Association website. http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/common-terms/. Published August 1, 2013. Edited April 7, 2014. Accessed May 9, 2018.

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