A1C: A test that measures a person’s average blood sugar level over the past 2 to 3 months. Hemoglobin (Hee-mo-glo-bin) is the part of a red blood cell that carries oxygen to the cells and sometimes joining with the glucose in the blood stream. The A1C test shows the amount of glucose that sticks to the red blood call, which is proportionate to the amount of glucose in the blood. Fun fact: your sleeping blood sugars add up to 1/3 of your A1C results. Pro tip: Set your target range lower while sleeping to make up for those roller coaster blood sugars during the day.
Active Insulin / Insulin on board: Bolus insulin that has been delivered to your body but has not yet been used. (Meaning if you’re high, and you still have 2 units of insulin “ on board/ active” meaning that the insulin hasn’t got a chance to bring down that glucose yet.. so you don’t need to give yourself more insulin as a correction.
ADA: American Diabetes Association / American with Disabilities act Alpha cells:Cells of the pancreas that makes the hormone glucagon, when the body needs to put more sugar into the blood. Basal insulin-An hourly, continuous infusion of insulin delivered automatically by an insulin pump based on preprogrammed profiles and personalized rates set in the pump. The pump delivers a daily infusion of insulin that typically covers "background" insulin needs during periods of fasting (i.e., overnight and between meals). A non diabetic’s pancreas does this on its own. It's important to note that there are two ways to administer a basal insulin. One dose of long-term insulin Two doses of long-term insulin In a pump Some people might take only basal, or "background" insulin. This is a long-acting insulin that boosts activity for around 24 hours at a time, but to a lower peak than rapid-, intermediate-, or regular-acting insulin. Basal insulin is also sometimes known as "background insulin." People usually take basal insulin once or twice a day to keep blood sugar levels consistent. By keeping sugar levels steady when a person is not eating, basal insulin allows the cells to convert sugar into energy more efficiently. Examples of long-acting basal insulin for people with diabetes include: glargine (Basaglar or Toujeo, which is ultra long-acting) detemir (Levemir) degludec (Tresiba} These insulins reach the bloodstream several hours after injection and remain effective for up to 24 hours.However, people using these treatments will also need to use bolus insulin, or rapid-acting insulin, when they eat. The combination of these insulins is known as basal-bolus therapy. Basal patterns- The user can program up to three different basal rate patterns into their pump for the delivery of basal insulin: Standard, A, and B. For each pattern there is the option of setting up to 48 basal rates. Basal profile-A basal rate with a start and stop time. The user can program several different profiles into their pump, each with a different basal rate, during a 24-hour period of time to achieve better glucose control. Basal rate- The pump setting that provides a continuous infusion of insulin to keep the blood glucose stable between meals and during the night. Basal insulin mimics pancreatic insulin delivery—which meets all the body’s non-food related insulin needs. Baqsimi: A new version of a glucagon emergency kit that is in a powder form that can be puffed up your nose. (See glucagon emergency kit below) Bolus insulin-A dose of insulin given to cover an expected rise in blood glucose (such as the rise after a meal or a snack) or to lower a high blood glucose down to target range Bolus: Definition: Bolus. Bolus. A bolus is a single, large dose of medicine. For a person with diabetes, a bolus is a dose of insulin taken to handle a rise in blood glucose (a type of sugar), like the one that happens during eating. A bolus is given as a shot or through an insulin pump. Brittle Diabetes: a term used when a person’s blood sugar level moves often from low to high and from how to low (the rollercoaster) Calibrate: check, adjust, or set to a standard (calibrate your pump or CGM) Cannula: A short, thin, and flexible at the end of an infusion set that is inserted into the subcutaneous tissue to deliver insulin. It is inserted with a needle. The needle comes out and is disposed of and the cannula stays under the skin. Carb Ratio: Used when eating. You weight your carbohydrates in grams. This ratio is the amount of carbohydrates that will be covered by one unit of insulin. (YDMV with this) Your carb ratio will not be the same as any one else’s, and it may even be different at different parts of the day due to your IR. (Both of these terms are defined below.) CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitoring):A way to measure glucose levels in real-time throughout the day and night. A tiny electrode called a glucose sensor is inserted under the skinto measure glucose levels in tissue fluids. It is connected to a transmitter that sends the information via wireless radio frequency to a monitoring and display device. ( I use a Dexcom G6) Correction bolus-The amount of insulin needed to return a high blood glucose level back down to target range. This plays hand in hand with your ISF (defined below) Correction bolus factor (Sensitivity factor)-How much 1 unit of insulin will lower your blood glucose. This factor is used to calculate a correction bolus amount when your blood sugar is high. (BG level) – (BG target) = X. X ÷ (correction bolus factor) = correction bolus amount This number can vary based on your day to day. (have you worked out, how much have you slept, are you hydrated, hormonal, etc) Certified Diabetes Educator:A health care professional with expertise in diabetes education who has met eligibility requirements and successfully completed a certification exam. This person is part of your Diabetes Management team and can help you read your graphs produced by your CGM (defined above) and troubleshoot issues you may be having. It is important to note that your settings will change ALL of the time. No two days will ever be the same. Dawn phenomenon / feet to floor syndrome: the early morning (4-8 am) rise in blood sugar level. (This is also common when you first wake up, or when you wake up from a nap) DIY LOOP: Closed loop system that reads an algorithm every 5 minutes based on your settings and your CGM reading. (It considers your ICR, ISF, IOB, Active carbohydrates and current blood glucose.) According to the main source of looping information – www.Loopdocs.com: “Loop is an app template for building an automated insulin delivery system. It is a stone resting on the boulders of work done by many others. In simple terms, Loop is an iOS app (Apple only) that connects a continuous glucose monitor and a compatible insulin pump to your phone to bring automated insulin adjustments. Dka: Diabetic Ketoacidosis: (key-toe-ass-ih-doh-sis) An emergency condition in which extremely high blood sugar levels, along with sever lack of insulin, results in the breakdown of body fat for energy and an accumulation of keytones in the blood and urine. This can lead to a coma and can even lead to death. Signs of DKA: Nausea and vomiting Stomach pain Fruity breath odor Rapid Breathing It is important to note that DKA is not always a result of poor control. DKA can happen to anyone anytime, no matter how well you control your diabetes. This can happen if you pull out a pump site or have a pump malfunction overnight, resulting in your body not getting the insulin it needs during those crucial hours. Endocrinologist: a doctor who treats people who have endocrine gland problems such as Diabetes or issue with their Thyroid. Works alongside of a CDE. Glucagon Emergency Kit-An injectable form of glucagon that can be used to treat severe low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia). A Glucagon Emergency Kit can be obtained in a pharmacy with a prescription. Glucagon:GLOO-kah-gahn) A hormone produced by the alpha cells in a functioning pancreas. It raises blood glucose. An injectable form of glucagon, available by prescription, may be used to treat severe hypoglycemia. Glycemic index: (gly-SEE-mik) A ranking of carbohydrate-containing foods, based on the food's effect on blood sugar compared with a standard reference food. How fast a food will impact your blood sugar and how much it will effect it. Honeymoon phase: Some people with type 1 diabetes experience a brief remission called the "honeymoon period." During this time their pancreas may still secrete some insulin. Over time, this secretion stops and as this happens, the person will require more insulin from injections. The honeymoon period can last weeks, months, or even up to a year or more. Hyperglycemia:(HY-per-gly-SEE-mee-uh) High blood sugar: excessive blood glucose. Fasting hyperglycemia is blood sugar above a desirable level after a person has fasted for at least 8 hours. Postprandial hyperglycemia is blood sugar above a desirable level 1 to 2 hours after a person has eaten. Hypoglycemia: (hy-po-gly-see-mee-u) A condition that occurs when one’s blood sugar is lower than normal, usually less than 70 mg/dL. Signs and symptoms include: Hunger Nervouness Shakiness Perspiration Dizziness or lightheadedness Sleepiness Confusion If left untreated, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) may lead to unconsciousness or seizures. Hypoglycemia is treated by consuming a carbohydrate-rich food such as a glucose tablet or juice. My go to low snacks are starbursts (4 carbs / piece), smarties (6 carbs / roll), or skittles (15 g per fun pack serving) Hypoglycemia can also be treated with an injection of glucagon (defined above) if the person is unconscious or unable to swallow. Pro tip: carry a card in your wallet that explains that you are diabetic, and if you appear to be drunk, they should test your blood sugar before assuming you are under the influence Hypoglycemia unawareness: A state in which a person does not feel or recognize the symptoms of hypoglycemia. This is a symptom of being a brittle diabetic. People who have frequent episodes of hypoglycemia may no longer experience the warning signs of it. (see above for warning signs of low blood sugar) Insulin sensitivity factor (ISF)-The amount of mg/dL (or mmol/L) that your blood glucose (BG) level is reduced by one unit of insulin. IOB:(Insulin on board) See Active insulin definition above ISF:(Insulin sensitivity factor) See correction bolus factor ICR:(Insulin carb ratio) See carb ratio IR: (Insulin resistance) The body's inability to respond to and use the insulin it produces. Insulin resistance may be linked to obesity, hypertension, and high levels of fat in the blood. JDRF:Juvenile Diabetes Research foundation. A nonprofit organization who’s mission is to advocate, educate and raise money for a cure for Type One Diabetes. Keytone:A chemical produced when there is a shortage of insulin in the blood and the body breaks down body fat for energy. High levels of ketones can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis and coma. Sometimes referred to as ketone bodies. Lancet:A spring-loaded device used to prick the skin with a small needle to obtain a drop of blood for blood glucose monitoring. LADA: Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a slow-progressing form of autoimmune diabetes. Like the autoimmune disease type 1 diabetes, LADA occurs because your pancreas stops producing adequate insulin, most likely from some "insult" that slowly damages the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Lispro Insulin:(Lyz-proh) a rapid-acting insulin. On average, lispro insulin starts to lower blood sugar within 5 minutes after injection. It has its strongest effect 30 minutes to 1 hour after injection but keeps working for 3 hours after injection. LOOP: See DIY loop above MDI:Multiple daily injections. A diabetes management style in which the person uses MDI instead of insulin pump therapy. NDAM: National Diabetes Awareness month NPH: an intermediate-acting insulin; NPH stands for neutral protamine Hagedorn. On average, NPH insulin starts to lower blood sugar within 1 to 2 hours after injection. It has its strongest effect 6 to 10 hours after injection but keeps working about 10 hours after injection. Also called N insulin. Omnipod (pod): An insulin pump that does not have tubing. Pre-bolus: Pre-bolusing insulin is when you take insulin at a set timeframe before eating, giving the insulin time to become "active" and combat the blood sugar rise. ... Pre-bolusing works well if you get the timing right; some people only need to bolus 15 minutes before eating, others may need 30 minutes. Premixed Insulin: a commercially produced combination of two different types of insulin. See 50/50 insulin and 70/30 insulin Pump: (NON OMNIPOD) An insulin pump is an insulin-delivering device that Is used by some people with diabetes. A small battery-operated device that can be worn on a belt or put into a pocket, it is connected to a narrow plastic tube that’s inserted just under the skin and taped in place. These insulin pumps usually last 2-3 days. PWD: persons with Diabetes Reservoir: The syringe that holds insulin in the pump. Rapid Acting Insulin: a type of insulin that starts to lower blood sugar within 5 to 10 minutes after injection and has its strongest effect 30 minutes to 3 hours after injection, depending on the type used. See aspart insulin and lispro insulin. Rebound Hyperglycemia: (HY-per-gly-SEE-mee-ah) a swing to a high level of glucose in the blood after a low level. See Somogyi effect Regular insulin: short-acting insulin. On average, regular insulin starts to lower blood sugar within 30 minutes after injection. It has its strongest effect 2 to 5 hours after injection but keeps working 5 to 8 hours after injection. Also called R insulin. Self-management:In diabetes, the ongoing process of managing diabetes. Includes meal planning, planned physical activity, blood sugar monitoring, taking diabetes medicines, handling episodes of illness and of low and high blood glucose, managing diabetes when traveling, and more. The person with diabetes designs his or her own self-management treatment plan in consultation with a variety of health care professionals such as doctors, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and others. Short-acting insulin:A type of insulin that starts to lower blood sugar within 30 minutes after injection and has its strongest effect 2 to 5 hours after injection. See regular insulin. Somogyi effect: (suh-moh-jee) Also called rebound hyperglycemia When the blood sugar level swings high following hypoglycemia. The Somogyi effect may follow an untreated hypoglycemic episode during the night and is caused by the release of stress hormones. Sensor: (glucose sensor): The small part of the continuous glucose monitoring system that you insert just below your skin to measure glucose levels in your interstitial fluid. Suspend: Function on the pump that stops all insulin delivery. Any current bolus and/or prime deliveries are canceled. The basal delivery is paused until restarted. Temp basal (tmp basal)-Temporary one-time basal insulin with a specified amount and duration. Used to support insulin needs for special activities or conditions that are not part of the normal daily routine. Type One Diabetes: a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels caused by a total lack of insulin. Occurs when the body's immune system attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and destroys them. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. Type 1 diabetes develops most often in young people but can appear in adults Type Two Diabetes: a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels caused by either a lack of insulin or the body's inability to use insulin efficiently. Type 2 diabetes develops most often in middle-aged and older adults but can appear in young people. 670G:The MiniMed (Medtronic) 670 G system is a hybrid closed loop system that monitors and automatically adjusts the delivery of long acting or basal insulin based on the user’s glucose reading. YDMV: Your diabetes may vary see more at: https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/diabetes-care/about-diabetes/diabetes-glossary