Glucose: A monosaccharide found in the blood, it is the body’s main source of energy and is also known as “dextrose”.
Fat: A substance that helps the body use certain vitamins and keeps the skin healthy, and is the body’s main way of storing energy. In food, there are a variety of fats – saturated, unsaturated, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and trans fats. To maintain blood cholesterol and triglyceride (lipid) levels as close to the normal range as possible, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends limiting the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet. Saturated fats can raise blood levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. The amount of saturated fat should be limited to less than 10% of total caloric intake, and the amount of dietary cholesterol should be limited to 300 mg per day.
Triglycerides: Fats carried in the blood and derived from the food you eat. Most of the fat we eat, including butter, margarine, and oil, is fat in the form of triglycerides. Excess triglycerides are stored in fat cells throughout the body. The body needs insulin to remove this fat from the blood.
Cholesterol: A waxy, odorless substance synthesized by the liver that is an important component of cell membranes and nerves. Cholesterol plays an important role in body functions such as digestion and the synthesis of hormones. In addition to being produced by the body, cholesterol also comes from the animal foods we eat. Too much cholesterol in the blood increases the number of particles called low-density lipoproteins (LDL; the “bad” cholesterol), which increase the buildup of plaque in artery walls and cause atherosclerosis.
Polyunsaturated fat: A fat that replaces saturated fat in the diet and can lower LDL, the “bad” cholesterol.
Protein: One of the three major food groups. Protein is made up of amino acids called “cellular building blocks”. Cells need protein to grow and repair themselves. Protein is found in many foods, such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, beans, and dairy products.
Lipids
Lipids: Another term for fat or fat-like substances in the blood. The body stores fat as energy for future use, like a car with a spare tank of gas. When the body needs energy, it can break down lipids into fatty acids and burn them like glucose. Excess fat in the diet can cause fat to accumulate in the walls of the arteries, called “atherosclerosis. Excess calories from fat or other nutrients may cause weight gain.
Metabolism: All the physical and chemical changes that occur in the body when food is broken down, energy is produced, and waste is created.
Obesity: A term used to describe excess body fat, defined by a person’s weight and height, or body mass index (BMI). a BMI over 30 is classified as obese. Obesity makes the body less sensitive to the effects of insulin. Extra body fat is considered a risk factor for diabetes.
Acetone: A chemical that forms in the blood when the body breaks down fat instead of sugar to produce energy. If acetone is formed, it usually means that the cells are starving. Usually, when the body produces acetone, it is called “ketosis” and occurs when there is an absolute or relative lack of insulin, when sugar cannot enter the cells to produce energy. The body then tries to use other energy sources, such as protein in muscle and fat in fat cells. Acetone flows through the body into the urine.
Ketone bodies: Often abbreviated as ketones, they are one of the products of fat burning in the body. When there is not enough insulin, the body cannot use sugar (glucose) to produce energy, at which point the body breaks down its own fat and protein. When fat is used, ketone bodies (an acid) appear in the urine and blood. When large amounts of ketones are present in the system, it can cause a serious condition called ketoacidosis. There are products that can be used at home to detect and monitor ketone bodies in the urine. When blood glucose is consistently above 250 mg/dl it is important to test for ketone bodies regularly if you are sick or pregnant and have diabetes.