Diabetes Glossary
Understanding diabetes and its related terms is essential for early detection and optimal management, especially for families participating in screening programs like EDENT1FI. To support you, we have compiled a comprehensive glossary of commonly associated vocabulary.
This resource will help you communicate confidently with healthcare professionals and take control of your health journey.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Computer systems or software that can perform tasks that usually require human intelligence, such as data analysis, which can help predict diabetes progression and identify important biological markers.
Beta cells
Special cells in the pancreas that make and release insulin, which helps control blood sugar levels.
Biomarkers
Biological indicators, such as specific proteins or antibodies, used to detect or monitor a disease. An example is the Proinsulin:C-Peptide (PI:CP) ratio, which may predict how quickly diabetes progresses.
Capillary blood
Blood obtained from a finger prick, commonly used for simple tests such as home glucose testing and islet autoantibody screening.
Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)
A device that automatically tracks blood sugar levels throughout the day and night, helping people with diabetes manage their condition by providing real-time data and alerts for high and low blood sugar levels.
Diabetes (mellitus)
A condition where the body has trouble making or using insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels. The three main types are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.
EDENT1FI-R
A registry for tracking individuals with early-stage Type 1 Diabetes, aimed at data harmonization and supporting research on disease progression.
External factors
Influences from outside the body, such as virus infections, that can affect the development and progression of diabetes.
Glucagon
A hormone made by the pancreas that raises blood sugar levels when they are too low.
Glucose
Also known as blood sugar, it's the main source of energy for the body's cells. Glucose comes from the food we eat and is carried to the cells through the bloodstream, but insulin is needed to help cells use it.
Glycogen
A stored form of glucose found in the liver and muscles. When blood sugar levels drop, glycogen is converted back into glucose to provide energy.
Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
A test that shows the average blood sugar level over the past two to three months. It helps to understand how well diabetes is being managed.
Home Glucose Test (HGT)
A simple test you can do at home to check your blood sugar levels. It involves pricking your finger to get a drop of blood, placing it on a test strip, and using a glucose meter to get a reading. This helps you manage your diabetes on a daily basis.
Hyperglycemia
High blood sugar levels. This happens when the body doesn't have enough insulin or can't use it properly. Symptoms include excessive thirst, dry mouth, and frequent urination.
Hypoglycemia
Low blood sugar levels. This can occur if a person with diabetes takes too much insulin, skips meals, or exercises more than usual. Symptoms include feeling shaky, weak, sweaty, and hungry.
Impaired fasting glucose (IFG)
Higher than normal blood sugar levels after fasting, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.
Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
Higher than normal blood sugar levels after eating, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.
Insulin
A hormone made by the pancreas that helps cells take in glucose from the blood to use for energy, and helps store extra glucose in the liver as glycogen.
Islet autoantibody
Proteins made by the immune system that mistakenly target and attack insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Their presence can indicate an increased risk of developing Type 1 Diabetes.
Machine Learning
A type of artificial intelligence that allows computers to learn from and make predictions based on data, used in diabetes research to analyze complex data sets and predict disease progression.
Omics analyses
Advanced techniques to study various biological molecules, such as genes (genomics), proteins (proteomics), and metabolites (metabolomics), to understand the mechanisms of diseases like diabetes.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)
A test to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes. After fasting, you drink a sugary solution, and blood sugar levels are tested periodically to see how your body handles the sugar.
Pancreas
An organ behind the stomach that produces insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar levels.
Proinsulin:C-Peptide (PI:CP) ratio
A biomarker being studied to predict the progression rate of Type 1 Diabetes.
Screening program
An organized effort to test people for early signs of a disease, such as Type 1 Diabetes, to identify those at risk and provide early intervention.
Type 1 diabetes
A form of diabetes where the body cannot produce insulin. It often starts in childhood or young adulthood.
Type 2 diabetes
A form of diabetes where the body can't use insulin properly to manage blood sugar levels. It is more common in adults but is increasingly being diagnosed in children and young adults.