Glossary
Amphetamine. This is a group of drugs that stimulate the central nervous system, leading to elevated blood pressure, heart rate and other metabolic functions. Amphetamines are highly addictive and are sometimes abused.
Automatic Thoughts. These are thoughts that pop into our minds automatically without us making a conscious effort to think of them. Automatic thoughts are a type of habitual way of thinking.
Binge drinking: Binge drinking is he drinking of a large amount of alcohol in a short time frame with the purpose of becoming drunk.
Blood sugars = blood glucose level is the main type of sugar that the body takes from food. The body cannot use this glucose without the presence of insulin.
Body Image: Body image is the perception that we have about the appearance of our own body.
Continuous Delivery Insulin Pump: This is a portable device used by some people with Type 1 diabetes that delivers insulin in programmed amounts through a canula that remains in the skin.
Carbohydrates are sugars that are found in food, usually derived from plants. They include simple carbohydrates (e.g., sugars and fruit juice etc) complex carbohydrates of starches and fiber. The body breaks des (eg. Starch). The body uses carbohydrates for energy.
Dehydration is excessive loss of body water. The causes of dehydration include heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exercise (e.g., in a marathon), kidney disease and medications (diuretics). Signs of dehydration include increasing thirst, dry mouth, weakness or lightheadedness (particularly if worse on standing) and a darkening of the urine or a decrease in urination.
DKA = diabetic ketoacidosis is a life-threatening complication that can occur when there is a near complete deficiency of insulin and elevated levels of certain stress hormones. People with new undiagnosed Type I diabetes frequently present to hospitals with DKA. DKA can also occur in people with diabetic who don't take prescribed insulin, or in those who fall sick due to illnesses such as pneumonia or a kidney infection.
Finger-pricks: A finger prick blood test is used by people with diabetes to test their blood sugar levels. The person pricks their finger with a sharp lancet and then squeezes the blood onto the test strip of a blood glucose meter, which measures the concentration of glucose in their blood.
HbA1c = glycosylated haemoglobin - the best way to understand this is to remember that your blood carries sugar around your body. Blood has red blood cells, which contain haemoglobin. Sugar sticks to the haemoglobin. Haemoglobin with sugar stuck to it is called glycosylated haemoglobin and this is shortened to HbA1c. Your HbA1c result shows how well your diabetes has been in control over the previous 3 months.
Heart disease is a structural or functional abnormality of the heart, or of the blood vessels supplying the heart, that disrupts its normal functioning.
Hyperglycemia - is the term for high blood glucose (sugar). People have a high blood glucose level when the body has too little, or not enough, insulin or when the body can't use insulin properly. Hyperglycemia can be caused by several things. If you have type 1 diabetes, you may not have given yourself enough insulin.
Hypo = hypoglycaemia means that your blood glucose level has dropped too low. It happens if the level falls below 4mmol/L. It is common for people who inject insulin. Known triggers of hypos include missing a meal, exercise, not eating enough carbohydrates and drinking alcohol.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas that permits glucose to enter cells and helps the body use glucose for energy. Insulin controls the amount of glucose in the blood.
Ketones are a chemical produced when the body breaks down fats. This occurs when a person doesn't have enough insulin, and the body cannot get its energy from the glucose in the blood and has to break down fats instead.
Self esteem: Self esteem is the view that we have of ourselves, or our sense of self pride. We may have a favourable view of ourselves (high self esteem) or an unfavourable view of ourselves (low self esteem).
Sleep apnea: Is a sleep problem where breathing through the nose and mouth is obstructed, leading to snoring.
STDs = sexually transmitted diseases are illnesses that have a significant chance of being transmitted between humans or animals by means of sexual contact.
Transition: Transition is when a child with Type 1 diabetes becomes too old (usually round 18 or 19 years of age) to attend the paediatric diabetes clinic. They then need to find an adult diabetes specialist.
Unhelpful thoughts are thoughts that are unrealistic and reflect unrealistic expectations of yourself or others. For example, 'I should be a perfect student / girlfriend'. They might also be likely to be thoughts which are causing you to feel unpleasant sensations.
