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ketoacidosis:

see diabetic ketoacidosis.

ketone:

a chemical produced when there is a shortage of insulin in the blood and the body breaks down body fat for energy. High levels of ketones can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis and coma. Sometimes referred to as "ketone bodies."

ketonuria (key-toe-NUH-ree-ah):

a condition occurring when ketones are present in the urine, a warning sign of diabetic ketoacidosis.

ketosis (ke-TOE-sis):

a ketone buildup in the body that may lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. Signs of ketosis are nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.

kidney disease:

see nephropathy.

kidney failure:

a chronic condition in which the body retains fluid and harmful wastes build up because the kidneys no longer work properly. A person with kidney failure needs dialysis or a kidney transplant. Also called end-stage renal (REE-nul) disease or ESRD.

kidneys:

the two bean-shaped organs that filter wastes from the blood and form urine. The kidneys are located near the middle of the back. They send urine to the bladder.

Kussmaul (KOOS-mall) breathing:

the rapid, deep, and labored breathing of people who have diabetic ketoacidosis.

L

lactic acidosis:

acidosis (high blood acid levels) caused by accumulation of lactic acid more rapidly than it can be metabolized. It may occur spontaneously or in association with diseases such as diabetes mellitus, leukaemia, or liver failure. It is a known and sometimes fatal side-effect of metformin therapy.

LADA:

see latent autoimmune diabetes in adults.

lancet:

a spring-loaded device used to prick the skin with a small needle to obtain a drop of blood for blood glucose monitoring.

laser surgery treatment:

a type of therapy that uses a strong beam of light to treat a damaged area. The beam of light is called a laser. A laser is sometimes used to seal blood vessels in the eye of a person with diabetes.

see photocoagulation.

latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA):

a condition in which type 1 diabetes develops in adults.

see latent autoimmune diabetes in adults

LDL cholesterol (kuh-LESS-tuh-rawl), stands for low-density lipoprotein (LIP-oh-PRO-teen) cholesterol:

a fat found in the blood that takes cholesterol around the body to where it is needed for cell repair and also deposits it on the inside of artery walls. Sometimes called "bad" cholesterol.

lente (LEN-tay) insulin:

an intermediate-acting insulin. On average, lente insulin starts to lower blood glucose levels within 1 to 2 hours after injection. It has its strongest effect 8 to 12 hours after injection but keeps working for 18 to 24 hours after injection. Also called L insulin.

limited joint mobility:

a condition in which the joints swell and the skin of the hand becomes thick, tight, and waxy, making the joints less able to move. It may affect the fingers and arms as well as other joints in the body.

lipid (LIP-id):

a term for fat in the body. Lipids can be broken down by the body and used for energy.

lipid profile:

a blood test that measures total cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is then calculated from the results. A lipid profile is one measure of a person's risk of cardiovascular disease.

lipoatrophy (LIP-oh-AT-ruh-fee):

loss of fat under the skin resulting in small dents. Lipoatrophy may be caused by repeated injections of insulin in the same spot.

lipodystrophy (LIP-oh-DIH-struh-fee):

defect in the breaking down or building up of fat below the surface of the skin, resulting in lumps or small dents in the skin surface.

see lipohypertrophy or lipoatrophy.) Lipodystrophy may be caused by repeated injections of insulin in the same spot.

lipohypertrophy (LIP-oh-hy-PER-truh-fee):

buildup of fat below the surface of the skin, causing lumps. Lipohypertrophy may be caused by repeated injections of insulin in the same spot.

lipoprotein:

protein-coated packages that carry fat and cholesterol throughout the bloodstream. There are four general classes: high-density, low-density, very low-density, and chylomicrons.

lispro (LYZ-proh) insulin:

a rapid-acting insulin. On average, lispro insulin starts to lower blood glucose within 5 minutes after injection. It has its strongest effect 30 minutes to 1 hour after injection but keeps working for 3 hours after injection. Also spelled lyspro.

liver:

an organ in the body that changes food into energy, removes alcohol and poisons from the blood, and makes bile, a substance that breaks down fats and helps rid the body of wastes.

long-acting insulin:

a type of insulin that starts to lower blood glucose within 4 to 6 hours after injection and has its strongest effect 10 to 18 hours after injection.

see ultralente insulin.

low blood sugar:

see hypoglycemia.

low-density lipoprotein cholesterol:

see LDL cholesterol.

M

macrosomia (mack-roh-SOH-mee-ah):

abnormally large; in diabetes, refers to abnormally large babies that may be born to women with diabetes.

macrovascular (mack-roh-VASK-yoo-ler) disease:

disease of the large blood vessels, such as those found in the heart. Lipids and blood clots build up in the large blood vessel and can cause atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

macula (MACK-yoo-la):

the part of the retina in the eye used for reading and seeing fine detail.

macular (MACK-yoo-lur) edema (eh-DEE-mah):

swelling of the macula.

maturity-onset diabetes:

a former term, no longer used, for type 2 diabetes.

maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY):

a kind of type 2 diabetes that accounts for 1 to 5 percent of people with diabetes. Of the six forms identified, each is caused by a defect in a single gene.

MDI:

See multiple daily injections..

meglitinide (meh-GLIH-tin-ide):

a class of oral medicine for type 2 diabetes that lowers blood glucose by helping the pancreas make more insulin right after meals. (Generic name: repaglinide.)

metabolic syndrome:

the tendency of several conditions to occur together, including obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes or pre-diabetes, hypertension, and high lipids.

also see: metabolic syndrome.

metabolism:

the term for the way cells chemically change food so that it can be used to store or use energy and make the proteins, fats, and sugars needed by the body.

metformin (met-FOR-min):

an oral medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes. It lowers blood glucose by reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver and helping the body respond better to the insulin made in the pancreas. Belongs to the class of medicines called biguanides. (Brand names: Glucophage, Glucophage XR; an ingredient in Glucovance.)

mg/dL:

milligrams (MILL-ih-grams) per deciliter (DESS-ih-lee-tur), a unit of measure that shows the concentration of a substance in a specific amount of fluid. In the United States, blood glucose test results are reported as mg/dL. Medical journals and other countries use millimoles per liter (mmol/L). To convert to mg/dL from mmol/L, multiply mmol/L by 18. Example: 10 mmol/L × 18 = 180 mg/dL.

microalbumin (MY-kro-al-BYOO-min):

small amounts of the protein called albumin in the urine detectable with a special lab test.

See: proteinuria

microaneurysm (MY-kro-AN-yeh-rizm):

a small swelling that forms on the side of tiny blood vessels. These small swellings may break and allow blood to leak into nearby tissue. People with diabetes may get microaneurysms in the retina of the eye.

Micronase:

a brand name for a sulfonylurea medication for diabetes. see glyburide.

microvascular (MY-kro-VASK-yoo-ler) disease:

disease of the smallest blood vessels, such as those found in the eyes, nerves, and kidneys. The walls of the vessels become abnormally thick but weak. Then they bleed, leak protein, and slow the flow of blood to the cells.

miglitol (MIG-lih-tall):

an oral medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes. It blocks the enzymes that digest starches in food. The result is a slower and lower rise in blood glucose throughout the day, especially right after meals. Belongs to the class of medicines called alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. (Brand name: Glyset.)

mixed dose:

a combination of two types of insulin in one injection. Usually a rapid- or short-acting insulin is combined with a longer acting insulin (such as lente or NPH insulin) to provide both short-term and long-term control of blood glucose levels.

mmol/L:

millimoles per liter, a unit of measure that shows the concentration of a substance in a specific amount of fluid. In most of the world, except for the United States, blood glucose test results are reported as mmol/L. In the United States, milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) is used. To convert to mmol/L from mg/dL, divide mg/dL by 18. Example: 180 mg/dL ÷ 18 = 10 mmol/L.

MODY:

see maturity-onset diabetes of the young.

monitor:

see blood glucose meter.

monofilament:

a short piece of nylon, like a hairbrush bristle, mounted on a wand. To check sensitivity of the nerves in the foot, the doctor touches the filament to the bottom of the foot.

mononeuropathy (MAH-noh-ne-ROP-uh-thee):

neuropathy affecting a single nerve.

multiple daily injections:

use of two (or more) types of insulin in 3 or more injections each day. A rapid- or short-acting insulin is used with a longer acting insulin (such as glargine or NPH insulin) to provide both short-term and long-term control of blood glucose levels. Also called "basal-bolus" insulin therapy.

myocardial (my-oh-KAR-dee-ul) infarction (in-FARK-shun):

an interruption in the blood supply to the heart because of narrowed or blocked blood vessel. Also called a heart attack.