Snippets Of Me

Diabetes Dictionary ver 1.0

Thursday, April 02, 2009

I realized when I read back on my old entries that I've been using a lot of diabetes jargon. Since a sharing isn't really a sharing when people don't know what the heck I'm talking about half the time, I thought this Diabetes Dictionary should be of some help.

Some of which are technical terms explained in my own words, and others are terms that I came up with.

1. BSLs/BGLs:
Blood Sugar Levels/Blood Glucose Levels. I usually refer to this as my numbers or the readings on my meter.

2. Normal range of BSLs:
Ideally, the normal range of BSLs should be between 4-8 mmol/L.

3. Hypoglycaemia/Hypo/Low:
This happens when my BSLs fall below 4. This varies in severity. Record number, not that I should be proud of it, was a 1.3. Severe hypos are below 3 for me.

4. Hyperglycaemia/Hyper/High:
It cracks me up whenever I say 'I'm high' because it gives some impression that I've been drinking or that I'm taking illegal drugs or something. When I say I'm high, I usually mean that my BSLs are above 8. I'll tell you if I mean otherwise. (hope that day never comes. haha)

5. Warren:
The name of my doctor. Calling him by name makes it a little less impersonal. After all, I've really known him for 10 years.

6. HbA1c/A1c:
Simply put, it's a test I do whenever I'm at the doctor's office. It's an average of my BSLs over the past 3 months. This test result should be between 5 - 6mmol/L. It's currently an 8.

7. LDLs:
It stands for low-density lipoprotein. It's the bad cholesterol that increases the risk of heart attacks. I've been talking a lot about this lately because I'm working to bring this test result down too. Haven't had normal LDLs since I was 11!

8. Blood Glucose Meter/Meter:
It's the device that measures my BGLs. I prick my fingers to insert the blood into a test strip that measures it. See pic below:

9. Test strip:
That's the strip that's inserted into the meter.

10. Insulin pump/pump/Tommy/Dwight/T.D:
That's what's connected to me 24/7. Tommy is its name. :) If you see me without it, something's really wrong.

11. Insulin:
It's the hormone that my body can't produce. It's really the medication that Tommy dispenses to my body. In other words, it's really the root of the problem. Haha.

12. Infusion site:
That's where the catheter of Tommy is inserted into my tummy. That sounded really wrong, but you get what I mean... Haha...

13. Lifesaver:
This usually means my glucose tablets. Due to the fact that it saves my life by raising my blood sugar quickly during a hypo, that's why it's got that name.

14. Basal:
That's the basic dose of insulin that Tommy delivers, not including the extra insulin that I give for meals to control my sugar levels.

15. Bolus:
It's the dose of insulin that I have to 'command' Tommy to send into my body by pressing his buttons before a meal. (love the play of words. hahahaha.) If I forget to bolus, it would result in a hyper after.

Phew. That's 15 terms. I'll update it again when I think of more. Have a blessed Friday!

Rachel wrote in the pages of her life at 9:48 PM

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