Glossary

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long-acting insulin

a type of insulin that starts to lower blood glucose within 4 to 6 hours after injection, lasts up to 24 hours, and has its strongest effect 10 to 18 hours after injection.

metformin

an oral medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes. It lowers blood glucose by reducing the amount of sugar produced by the liver and helping the body respond better to the insulin made in the pancreas.

OAD

see oral antidiabetic drug.

oral antidiabetic drug

medicines taken by mouth by people with type 2 diabetes to keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible.

oral hypoglycemic

see oral antidiabetic drug.

pancreas

an organ that makes insulin and enzymes for digestion. The pancreas is located behind the lower part of the stomach and is about the size of a hand.

plasma

the clear, yellowish fluid portion of the blood in which cells are suspended.

pre-diabetes

a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but are not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. People with pre-diabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes and for heart disease and stroke. Other names for pre-diabetes are impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose.

postprandial plasma glucose

also postprandial blood glucose.

the blood glucose level taken after eating.

PPG

see postprandial plasma glucose.

rapid-acting insulin

a type of insulin that starts to lower blood glucose within 5 to 10 minutes after injection and has its strongest effect 30 minutes to 3 hours after injection, depending on the type used.

type 1 diabetes

a disease characterized by high blood glucose 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 and therefore blood glucose cannot enter the cells to be used for energy. Type 1 diabetes develops most often in young people but can appear in adults.

type 2 diabetes

a disease characterized by high blood glucose 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. Clinically based reports and regional studies suggest that type 2 diabetes, while still rare in children and adolescents, is being diagnosed more frequently in children and adolescents, particularly in American Indians, African Americans, and Hispanic/Latino American populations. ^{National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. Diabetes Statistics}