AADE7™ Self-Care Behaviors: Seven key self-care behaviors—healthy eating, being active, monitoring, taking medication, problem solving, reducing risks, and healthy coping—identified by the American Association of Diabetes Educators as important components to diabetes management
carbohydrate: One the three major food categories—the other two being fats and proteins. Starches and sugars are carbohydrates. Human digestion breaks carbohydrate down into glucose, which is used by the body's cells for energy. One gram of carbohydrate supplies 4 calories of energy. Carbohydrates should provide approximately 45% to 65% of your daily caloric intake. As a rule, you should eat at least 130 grams of carbohydrate every day.
certified diabetes educator (CDE): Healthcare professionals (nurses, dietitians, doctors, pharmacists, podiatrists, counselors, or exercise physiologists) who are specially trained in the care and treatment of diabetes. They may work in hospitals, private offices, clinics, or diabetes centers. These clinicians must pass a national certification exam and be recertified every 5 years.
diabetologist: An endocrinologist or other type of physician who specializes in the treatment of diabetes. "Diabetologist" is recognized as a concentration or special medical interest, but is not a board-certified medical specialty like cardiologist (heart doctor) or nephrologist (kidney).
endocrinologist: A doctor who specializes in endocrine diseases and disorders. Endocrine glands release hormones directly into the bloodstream for distribution to cells and tissues elsewhere in the body. The pancreas has an endocrine function in the production and secretion of insulin. Diabetes, therefore, is an endocrine disorder.
extra lean: Meat that contains less than 5 grams of total fat, less than 2 grams of saturated fat, and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per 3-ounce serving.
glitazone: A class of diabetes drugs that improves the insulin sensitivity of fat and muscle cells. A 5- to 10-pound weight gain is not unusual for people taking a glitazone.
glitinide: A class of diabetes drugs that stimulates the release of insulin—typically taken at the start of meals to help the pancreas respond more quickly to rising blood sugar (glucose) levels. Can cause hypoglycemia if not taken with a meal.
glucose: The simplest sugar and the form in which carbohydrate energy is made available to the body. Glucose appears in the blood as a result of carbohydrate metabolism after a meal and as a result of the breakdown of glycogen stored in the liver and muscles. The liver releases glucose from glycogen into the bloodstream for energy between meals.
glucosidase inhibitor: A class of diabetes drugs that slows down the digestive process to slow down the absorption of glucose into the blood–prescribed when the underlying problem is that the pancreas does not respond quickly enough to rising blood sugar (glucose) level.
glycemic control: The goal of the diabetes treatment plan. Achieving glycemic control means the highs and lows of blood sugar (glucose) level are kept within a normal range, never getting too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia).
glycemic index: The glycemic index ranks carbohydrate-containing foods according to their effect on blood glucose (sugar) level.
glycogen: A storage form of carbohydrate in the body. The body converts glucose to glycogen and stores it in the muscles and liver for immediate energy needs. The liver releases glucose (derived from glycogen) to maintain normal blood sugar level between meals.
hemoglobin A1C: The definitive test of glycemic control. A1C measures the proportion of hemoglobin to which glucose has bound over a 3 to –4 month period. It has been likened to a blood sugar "batting average." A normal A1C in a healthy person without diabetes is around 5%. The target for most people with diabetes is to stay below 7%.
hormone: A chemical messenger produced by a gland that directs the activity of cells. For example, insulin is produced in the pancreas and is secreted into the bloodstream, which carries it to fat and muscle where it directs the cellular uptake of glucose.
hyperglycemia: Too much sugar (glucose) in the blood. Hyperglycemia is the cardinal sign of diabetes, in which blood glucose levels rise due to a lack of insulin action.
hypoglycemia: Too little sugar (glucose) in the blood. Hypoglycemia can be a serious problem for people with diabetes. It is best combatted by careful attention to diet, proper self-monitoring of blood glucose level, and being mindful of the potential for certain drugs (eg, insulin and sulfonylureas) to cause low blood sugar.
insulin: Hormone produced by the pancreas and secreted into the bloodstream in response to rising sugar (glucose) levels in the blood. Most cells require insulin to take up glucose from the blood for energy.
insulin deficiency: A defining feature of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, it results from immune system destruction of insulin-producing beta-cells in the pancreas. In type 2 diabetes, it is a functional deficiency brought on by excess demand for insulin resulting from insulin resistance.
insulin resistance: When the cells that normally take up glucose from the blood with the aid of insulin become less sensitive to the effects of insulin, resulting in a rising demand for insulin.
lancet: A sharp-tipped device used to puncture the skin for a blood sample when testing blood sugar (glucose) levels.
lean: Meat that contains less than 10 grams of total fat, less than 4.5 grams of saturated fat, and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per 3-ounce serving.
metformin: A diabetes drug that helps keep the liver from releasing too much glucose into the blood between meals and helps improve cellular sensitivity to the action of insulin. The most common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
ophthalmologist: An eye doctor. Ophthalmologists are important members of your diabetes care team to help watch for diabetes-related eye conditions, such as retinopathy.
sulfonylurea: A class of diabetes drugs that helps the pancreas produce more insulin.
thiazolidinediones: Also known as TZDs. Another name for glitazones.
vascular: Refers to the veins and arteries. One of the more serious complications of long-term hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) is microvascular injury—damage to the smallest veins and arteries.