Carolyn N. Kinder
AIC: Previously known as an HbA1c test is a blood test that measures the average amount of glucose in your body over a 2-3-month period based upon the percentage of hemoglobin molecules (found in red blood cells) with glucose attached to them. AIC is a numerical term used to represent how much of your hemoglobin has blood sugar.
Beta cells:
The cells in the Islets of Langerhans that make insulin.
Carbohydrates:
Any of a group of compounds that share a general biochemical structure containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; includes sugars and starches
Diabetes mellitus a disorder characterized by the inadequate production or utilization of insulin
Glucagon: A hormone produced by a healthy pancreas that causes the liver to release glucose while it slows the release of insulin in your body. A glucagons injection will help raise your glucose level when it is generously low. It comes in a kit and is available by prescription.
Glucose
: A simple form of sugar your body makes from the food you eat to use as fuel to live.
Hyperglycemia
: Is a term for high blood sugar.
Hypoglycemia
: also known as an insulin reaction): A condition that occurs when blood glucose levels fall very low.
Insulin
: A hormone produced by a healthy pancreas that helps the body use glucose as energy. If the pancreas does not make insulin or enough insulin, or if the body rejects the insulin it makes, animal and genetically engineered human insulin may be injected into the bloodstream as a replacement.
Islets of Langerhans
clusters of cells that compose the endocrine portion of the pancreas and secrete insulin
Pancreas:
A gland located behind your stomach and near your liver that produces enzymes used in digestion and the hormones insulin and glucagons to regulate blood glucose.
Type 1 Diabetes
(also known as immune-medicated diabetes): A metabolic condition where the pancreas makes too little insulin and eventually no insulin at all. This happens because the immune system destroys the pancreas cells that make insulin. Type 1 diabetes patients must take insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes
(also known as insulin-resistant diabetes): A metabolic condition where the pancreas makes insulin but the body will not use it or the pancreas makes too little insulin to be of use or both. A combination of diet, exercise and oral diabetes medication help some type 2 diabetes patients' bodies use their own insulin, but others may still need to take insulin.