albumin - a protein found in blood plasma and urine, which can be a sign of kidney disease.

autoimmune process - a process where the body's immune system attacks and destroys body tissue that it mistakes for foreign matter.

beta cells - cells that make insulin, found in areas of the pancreas called the islets of Langerhans.

bladder - a hollow organ that urine drains into from the kidneys.

blood pressure - force of the blood against the artery walls. Two levels of blood pressure are measured: the highest, or systolic, occurs when the heart pumps blood into the blood vessels, and the lowest, or diastolic, occurs when the heart rests.

calluses - thick, hardened areas of the skin, generally on the foot, caused by friction or pressure.

carbohydrates - one of the three major sources of calories in the diet. Carbohydrates come primarily from sugar (simple carbohydrates) and starch (complex carbohydrates, found in breads, pasta, and beans). Carbohydrate is broken down into glucose during digestion and is the main nutrient that raises blood glucose levels.

cholesterol - a substance similar to fat that is found in the blood, muscles, liver, brain, and other body tissues. The body produces and needs some cholesterol. However, too much cholesterol can make fats stick to the walls of the arteries and cause a disease that decreases or stops circulation.

corn - a thickening of the skin of the feet or hands, usually by pressure against the skin.

food exchanges - a way to help people stay on special food plans by letting them replace items from one food group with items from another group.

gestational diabetes - a type of diabetes that can occur in pregnant women who have not been known to have diabetes before. Although gestational diabetes usually subsides after pregnancy, many women who've had gestational diabetes develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

gingivitis - a swelling and soreness of the gums that, without treatment, can cause serious gum problems and disease.

glucagon - a hormone that raises the blood glucose level. When someone with diabetes has a very low blood glucose level, a glucagon injection can help raise the blood glucose quickly.

glucose - a sugar in our blood and a source of energy for our bodies.

hemoglobin A1c - a test that sums up how much glucose has been sticking to part of the hemoglobin during the past 3-4 months. Hemoglobin is a substance in the red blood cell that supplies the oxygen to the cells of the body. This test helps show how well diabetes patients have done in controlling their blood sugar.

high blood glucose - a condition that occurs in people with diabetes when their blood glucose levels are too high. Symptoms include having to urinate often, being very thirsty, and losing weight.

high blood pressure - a condition where the blood circulates through the arteries with too much force. High blood pressure tires the heart, harms the arteries, and increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney problems.

hyperglycemia - see high blood glucose.

hypertension - see high blood pressure.

hypoglycemia - see low blood glucose.

impotence - a condition of not being able to keep an erect penis and ejaculate. Some men who have had diabetes a long time become impotent if their nerves have become damaged.

insulin - a hormone that helps the body use blood glucose for energy. The beta cells of the pancreas make insulin. When people with diabetes can't make enough insulin, they may have to inject from another source.

insulin-dependent diabetes - see type 1 diabetes.

ketoacidosis - high blood glucose, often caused by illness or taking too little insulin. The body uses fat for energy, and ketones build up in the blood. Insulin and fluids must be given to avoid serious injury or even death.

ketones - chemical substances that the body makes when it doesn't have enough insulin in the blood. When ketones build up in the body for a long time, serious illness or coma can result.

low blood glucose - a condition that occurs in people with diabetes when their blood glucose levels are too low. Symptoms include feeling anxious or confused, feeling numb in the arms and hands, and shaking or feeling dizzy.

meal plan - a guide to help people get the proper amount of calories, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and fiber in their diet. See also Food Exchanges.

nephropathy - diabetic kidney disease.

neuropathy - diabetic nerve damage.

non-insulin-dependent diabetes - see type 2 diabetes.

pancreas - organ in the body that makes insulin so that the body can use glucose for energy. The pancreas also makes enzymes that help the body digest food.

periodontitis - gum disease in which the gums shrink away from the teeth. Without treatment, it can lead to tooth loss.

plaque - film of mucus that traps bacteria on the surface of the teeth. Plaque can be removed with daily brushing and flossing of the teeth.

retinopathy - diabetic eye disease.

risk factors - traits that make it more likely that a person will get an illness. For example, a risk factor for getting type 2 diabetes is having a family history of diabetes.

self-monitoring blood glucose - a way for people with diabetes to find out how much glucose is in their blood. A drop of blood from the fingertip is placed on a special strip of paper that "reads" (often through an electronic meter) the amount of glucose in the blood.

stroke - damage to part of the brain that happens when the blood vessels supplying that part are blocked, such as when the blood vessels are clogged with fats (a condition sometimes called "hardening of the arteries.")

type 1 diabetes - a condition in which the pancreas makes so little insulin that the body can't use blood glucose as energy. Type 1 diabetes most often occurs in people younger than age 2 and must be controlled with daily insulin injections.

type 2 diabetes - a condition in which the body makes too little insulin or can't use the insulin it makes to use blood glucose as energy. Type 2 diabetes most often occurs in people older than the age 40 and can be controlled through meal plans and physical activity. Some people with Type 2 diabetes have to take diabetes pills or insulin.

ulcer - a break or deep sore in the skin. Germs can enter an ulcer and may be hard to heal.

vitrectomy - an operation to remove the blood that sometimes collects at the back of the eyes when a person has eye disease.

yeast infection - a vaginal infection that is usually caused by a fungus. Women who have this infection may feel itching, burning when urinating, and pain. Some women have a vaginal discharge. Yeast infections occur more frequently in women with diabetes.