Insulin response: Another term for hypoglycemia in people with diabetes. This occurs when a person with diabetes is given too much insulin, eats too little, or exercises without eating extra food.
Insulin shock: A severe condition that occurs when blood sugar levels drop rapidly.
Insulin receptor: The area outside the cell that allows insulin in the blood to attach or bind to the cell. When the cell and insulin bind together, the cell can take glucose from the blood and use it to produce energy.
Insulin resistance: This effect can occur with both insulin produced in the body and injected insulin when insulin becomes less effective on muscle, fat, and liver cells. As a result, higher levels of insulin are needed to lower blood glucose.
Low blood sugar: This condition occurs frequently in people with diabetes, mostly when there is too much insulin and not enough glucose in the body.
Hyperglycemia: This condition is fairly common in people with diabetes. Many factors may cause hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia occurs when the body has enough insulin or cannot use the insulin that the body has.
High blood pressure: A condition that occurs when blood flows through the blood vessels with greater than normal force. High blood pressure increases the load on the heart, damages arteries, and increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney problems, also known as “hypertensive disorders. The blood pressure goal for people with diabetes is less than 130/80 mmHg.
Risk factor: Any factor that increases someone’s chance of developing a disease or condition.
Autoimmune disease: A disease of the body’s immune system in which the immune system mistakenly attacks itself. These diseases include type 1 diabetes, hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease, and hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s disease.