Insulin: A hormone produced by the pancreas to help the body use sugar to produce energy, insulin is synthesized by the beta cells of the pancreas.
Human insulin: Bioengineered insulin that is very similar to the insulin synthesized by the body. The DNA code for synthetic human insulin is placed in bacteria or yeast, and the synthetic insulin is purified and sold as human insulin.
Insulin mixture: A mixture of insulins containing short-acting, intermediate-acting, or long-acting insulins. Pre-mixed insulin can be purchased without mixing insulin from two vials.
Plain insulin: A fast-acting insulin.
Quick-acting insulin: Covering insulin needs while eating, this insulin is used with long-acting insulin.
Short-acting insulin: Covers insulin requirements for 30 to 60 minutes of eating.
Medium-acting insulin: Covers about half-day or overnight insulin requirements, and this type of insulin is usually used in combination with rapid-acting or short-acting insulins. This includes neutral fish protein zinc insulin (NPH) and zinc insulin suspension (Lente).
Extra slow-acting insulin: A long-acting insulin, this insulin usually lasts 25 to 36 hours after injection. This insulin begins to work 4 to 5 hours after injection and is most potent 8 to 14 hours after injection. Other types of long-acting insulins include Lexapro and Norplant.
Mixed dose: A prescription dose of insulin that is a mixture of two insulins and is injected in one dose. A mixed dose usually combines fast-acting insulin and long-acting insulin. The mixed dose can be contained in a premixed syringe or mixed at the time of injection. To provide better glycemic control, your doctor may prescribe a mixed dose.
Biosynthetic insulin: Genetically engineered human insulin; this insulin, unlike bovine or porcine insulin, has a much lower risk of causing allergic reactions in the people who use it. Manufacturers of synthetic insulin make it a short-acting form that controls blood glucose elevation at meals; they also produce long-acting insulins that control blood glucose before meals and during fasting, such as in the evening.
Oral diabetes medications: The medications that people use to lower their blood sugar can be prescribed for people whose pancreas can still produce insulin. These medications are not used to treat diabetes during pregnancy.
Antidiabetic drugs: Substances that help people with diabetes control their blood sugar levels (e.g., insulin, oral diabetes medications).
Sulfonylureas: Pills or capsules that people use to lower their blood sugar. These oral diabetes medicines lower blood sugar by causing the pancreas to produce more insulin.
Insulin pump: A small computerized device, about the size of a small cell phone, that is worn on a belt or in a pocket. The insulin pump has a small hose with a thin needle on the end, which is placed under the skin in the abdomen and held in place with tape. Carefully measured, steady flow of insulin is released into the body.
Artificial pancreas: A glucose sensor connected to the insulin delivery device; the two are connected together in a so-called “closed loop system”. In other words, it’s a system that not only measures glucose levels in the body, but also uses that information and releases the right amount of insulin for the specific glucose that has just been measured. The artificial pancreas regulates the amount of insulin that is released, so low blood sugar causes the device to reduce insulin release.
Vitrectomy: A procedure in which the gel in the center of the eye is removed because it contains blood and scar tissue that hinders vision. The eye surgeon uses a clear fluid to replace the cloudy gel.
Laser treatment: An intense beam of light (laser) is used to repair the damaged area. People with diabetes may receive laser treatment to treat blood vessels in the eye.