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Acesulfame-k: An artificial sweetener used in place of sugar because it is non-caloric. It is not metabolized by the body and therefore does not contribute to calories and has contains no carbohydrates. Therefore, it has no effect on blood sugar levels.

Acetone: A chemical formed in the blood when the body breaks down fat instead of glucose for energy. If acetone forms, it usually means the cells are starved. Commonly, the body's production of acetone is known as "ketosis." It occurs when there is an absolute or relative deficiency in insulin so sugars cannot get into cells for energy. The body then tries to use other energy sources like proteins from muscle and fat from fat cells. Acetone passes through the body into the urine.

Acidosis: Too much acid in the body, usually from the production of ketones like acetone, when cells are starved. For a person with diabetes, the most common type of acidosis is called "ketoacidosis."

Acute: Abrupt onset that is usually severe; happens for a limited period of time.

Adrenal glands: Two endocrine glands that sit on top of the kidneys and make and release stress hormones, such as: epinephrine (adrenaline), which stimulates carbohydrate metabolism; norepinephrine, which raises heart rate and blood pressure; corticosteroid hormones, which control how the body utilizes fat, protein, carbohydrates, and minerals and help reduce inflammation. They also produce sex hormones like testosterone and can produce DHEA and progesterone.

Adult-onset diabetes: A term no longer used. Considered synonymous to type 2 diabetes, yet the increased epidemic in obesity has lead to an increase in type 2 diabetes in children. Therefore the term is no longer considered valid. "Non insulin dependant diabetes" is also considered an incorrect phrase in describing type 2 diabetes, as patients with this type of diabetes may at some point require insulin.

Adverse effect: Harmful effect.

Albuminuria: More than normal amounts of a protein called "albumin" in the urine. Albuminuria may be a sign of kidney disease, a problem that can occur in about 30-45% of people who have had type 1 diabetes for at least 10 years. In patients with type 2 diabetes, the kidneys may already show signs of small amounts of protein spillage when they are diagnosed- called "microalbumin." This may be from the result of diabetes or from other diseases seen in conjunction with diabetes like high blood pressure. Protein in the urine increases the risk that a person with diabetes can have end stage renal disease. It also means that the person is at a particularly high risk for the development of cardiovascular disease.

Alpha cell: A type of cell in an area of the pancreas called the islets of Langerhans. Alpha cells make and release a hormone called "glucagon." Glucagon functions in direct opposition to insulin. In other words, it increases the amount of glucose in the blood by releasing stored sugar from the liver.

Anomaly: Birth defects; deviation from the norm or average.

Antibodies: Proteins that the body produces to protect itself from foreign substances, such as bacteria or viruses.

Antidiabetic agent: A substance that helps a person with diabetes control the level of glucose in their blood so their body functions properly. (See also insulin, oral diabetes medication).

Antigens: Substances that cause an immune response in the body; identifying substances or markers on cells. The body produces antibodies to fight antigens, or harmful substances, and tries to eliminate them.

Artery: A blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to other parts of the body. Arteries are thicker than veins and have stronger, more elastic walls. Arteries sometimes develop plaque within their walls in a process known as "atherosclerosis." These plaques can become fragile and rupture leading to the complications associated with diabetes such as heart attacks and strokes.

Artificial pancreas: A glucose sensor attached to an insulin delivery. Both are connected together by what is known as a "closed loop system." In other words, it is a system that not only can determine the body glucose level, but takes that information and releases the appropriate amounts of insulin for the particular sugar it just measured. The artificial pancreas can regulate the amount of insulin released, so low sugars would cause the device to decrease insulin delivery. Studies are being conducted to develop a version of this system that can be implanted.

Aspartame: An artificial sweetener used in place of sugar because it has few calories. Also known as "Equal" and "NutraSweet."

Asymptomatic: No symptoms; no clear sign that disease is present.

Atherosclerosis: A disease of the arteries. It is caused by deposits of cholesterol in the walls of arteries. These plaques can build up and cause narrowing of the arteries or they can become fragile and break off, forming blood clots that cause heart attacks and stroke. The arteries that supply blood to the heart can become severely narrowed, decreasing the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart, especially during times of increased activity.

Autoimmune disease: A disorder of the body's immune system in which the immune system mistakenly attacks itself. Examples of these diseases include type 1 diabetes, hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease, hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto's disease.

Autonomic neuropathy: Nerve damage to organs of the body that we cannot consciously control. These nerves control our digestive system, blood vessels, urinary system, skin and sex organs. Autonomic nerves are not under a person's control and function on their own.

Background retinopathy: This is the mildest form of eye disease damage from diabetes. It can be associated with normal vision and often progresses to other forms of eye disease.

Basal rate: The amount of insulin required to manage normal daily blood glucose fluctuations. Most people constantly produce insulin to manage the glucose fluctuations that occur during the day. In a person with diabetes, giving a constant low level amount of insulin via insulin pump mimics this normal phenomenon.

Beta cell: A type of cell in an area of the pancreas called the islets of Langerhans. Beta cells make and release insulin, which helps control the glucose level in the blood.

Biosynthetic insulin: Genetically engineered human insulin. This insulin has a much lower risk of inducing an allergic reaction in people who use it, unlike cow (bovine) or pork (porcine) insulins. The manufacturers of synthetic insulin make it in a short acting form which works to cover meal time increases in sugars, they also produce longer acting insulins which cover sugars between meals and when fasting, such as during the night.

Blood glucose: See glucose

Blood glucose monitoring or testing: A method of testing how much glucose is in your blood. Home blood glucose monitoring involves pricking your finger with a lancing device, putting a drop of blood on a test strip and inserting the test strip into a blood glucose-testing meter that displays your blood glucose level. Blood glucose testing can also be done in the laboratory. Most large recognized organizations recommend blood glucose monitoring numerous times during the day. Most recommend a glucose check first thing in the morning before eating and a sugar check two hours after meals.

Blood pressure: The measurement of the pressure or force of blood against the blood vessels (arteries). Blood pressure is written as two numbers. The first number or top number is called the systolic pressure and is the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and pushes more blood into the arteries. The second number, called the diastolic pressure, is the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. The ideal blood pressure for non-pregnant people with diabetes is 130/80 or less.

Brittle diabetes: When a person's blood glucose level often shifts very quickly from high to low and from low to high.

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): A product of metabolism that is excreted in the urine. It is measured in the blood as an indirect measure of how well the kidney is functioning. Increased BUN levels in the blood may indicate early kidney damage, meaning the

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