Acidosis: Too much acid in the body. This may lead to diabetic ketoacidosis.

Albuminuria: Abnormal quantities of albumin in the urine. This may signal kidney disease, an occasional development over time in diabetics.

Arteriosclerosis: This is the term for the group of illnesses that show a hardening and thickening of arterial walls. In one type of arteriosclerosis, fat accumulates on the walls, slowing blood flow. Very often these patients have a long history of diabetes.

Atherosclerosis: One of the long list of illnesses that accumulate fatty deposits on the walls of medium and major arteries. This fatty accumulation can slow or stop blood flow. Patients with a long history of diabetes are at risk.

Autonomic Neuropathy: A neuropathy. A nervous disease that mostly affects internal organs such as bladder muscles, and muscles of the digestive system and the genital organs. These nerves are not under the conscious control of individuals, functioning automatically.

Coma: A state of deep drowsiness similar to sleep; unconsciousness.

Complications of Diabetes: These are harmful effects that may present after a person has been suffering diabetes for a long time. They include ocular retinal lesion (retinopathy), lesion of the blood vessels (angiopathy), of the nervous system (neuropathy), and of the kidneys (nephropathy). Some experts hold that a strict control of blood glucose levels can contribute to the lessening, delaying or avoidance of this problem.

Coronary Disease: A heart lesion due to a deficit in blood irrigation, whether caused by the obstruction of blood vessels to the heart muscle, or because they have become thick or hardened. Diabetics are at a greater risk of Coronary Disease.

Dawn Phenomenon: Sudden increase of glucose (sugar) levels in blood at dawn. This condition is sometimes observed in insulin-dependent diabetics and (only rarely) in non-insulin-dependent diabetics. Conversely to the Somogyi effect, it is not the result of an insulin reaction. Diabetics who have high blood sugar in the mornings before eating could need to watch their blood sugar during the night. If levels rise, perhaps a change in the evening snacks or in the insulin dose will be recommended.

Dehydration: Major loss of body water. If the diabetic has a very high level of glucose (sugar) in the blood, this causes a great loss of water coupled with intense thirst.

Diabetic Amyotrophy: This affects the nerves that control the muscles. It is only one-sided and most often appears in men of advanced age with slight diabetes.

Diabetic Angiopathy: This is an illness of the blood vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries) presenting in chronic diabetes patients.

Diabetic Coma: A serious condition in which the patient is unconscious due to the excessively high level of glucose (sugar) in the blood, and because there are too many ketonic bodies (acids) in the organism. The signs are usually a flushed face, dry skin and mouth, fast and labored breathing, a fruity smell on the breath, a weak pulse and low blood pressure.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis [DKA]: This appears in severe uncontrolled diabetes (high blood sugar level) that requires urgent treatment. It is seen when the blood lacks the necessary amount of insulin, either because the patient is ill, is not taking a high enough dose of insulin, or is not doing enough exercise. The patient's organism starts to use fat reserves as sources of energy, forming ketonic bodies (acids) in the blood. Ketoacidosis starts slowly, but soon increases in velocity. Symptoms include nausea and vomiting that can lead to dehydration, gastric pain and deep and laboured breathing. If liquids and insulin are not immediately administered, ketoacidosis can lead to coma or death.

Diabetic Neuropathy: When diabetes is a long-standing condition, nervous lesions are often observed. Although this can affect many parts of the body, among diabetics, pain or tingling and numbness (known as peripheral neuropathy) are commonly felt in the feet and legs. Other forms of nervous lesion cause double vision, diarrhea, bladder paralysis and loss of sensation or response during sexual intercourse both in men and women. Peripheral Neuropathy.

Diabetic Retinopathy: A disease of the capillaries of the eye retina. The onset of this disease produces enlargement of the capillaries on the retina which release a little liquid at the centre, causing blurring of vision. Some 80 percent of people who present this symptom never progress to major difficulties in vision and the disease does not advance beyond the first stage. In the second stage, Proliferative Retinopathy, damage to sight may be more serious, leading to blindness. A number of new capillaries grow (neovascularization) that can break open and bleed within the vitreous humor (the transparent "gel" filling the eyeball), thus clouding vision. Scar tissue can also form near the retina, separating it from the wall of the eye.

Gangrene: The death of body tissue. This is caused most frequently by the loss of blood flow, especially in the legs and feet.

Gastroparesis: A neuropathy. A nervous lesion affecting the stomach. Food is not properly digested, and it does not follow its natural course in the digestive system, resulting in vomiting, nausea or a full sensation, which interferes with diabetes treatment.

Gingivitis: An inflammation of the gums which if not treated can give rise to periodontal disease, a serious condition of the gums. Inflamed and bleeding gums are a sign of gingivitis.

Glaucoma: An eye condition associated with diabetes, in which there is increased internal pressure in the eye. Glaucoma can cause lesions in the optic nerve, diminished sight and eventually, blindness.

Glycosuria: Presence of glucose (sugar) in the urine.

Hyperglycemia: High levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood; a sign that diabetes is out of control. Many factors can cause hyperglycemia. It sets in when the organism lacks insulin, or is unable to use the insulin it possesses to convert glucose into energy. Some signs of hyperglycemia are intense thirst, dryness of the mouth and a need to urinate frequently. This condition in those with insulin-dependent diabetes can result in diabetic ketoacidosis.

Hyperinsulinism: An excessively high level of insulin in the blood. This results from the organism producing too much insulin of its own, or from a diabetic taking too much insulin. In the former case, it can cause blood glucose (sugar) to drop to excessively low levels, and patients with this condition can sweat, tremble, feel confused or nervous and suffer from headaches or feel hungry.

Hyperlipidemia: Excessively high levels of fatty substances (lipids) in the blood.

Hyperosmolar Coma: This is the coma (loss of consciousness) associated with very high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood, and requires emergency treatment. It is generally seen in the elderly, weakened through loss of weight and body fluids. It may or may not be preceded by a case history of diabetes. No ketones (acids) are present in the urine.

Hypoglycemia: An excessively low level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. This happens when the diabetic has injected too much insulin, has not eaten enough, or has taken exercise without extra nourishment. People with hypoglycemia can feel nervous, trembly, weak or sweaty, and suffer from headaches, blurred vision and hunger. In general, these symptoms can be reverted after 10-15 minutes by taking small amounts of sugar or drinking sweet fruit juices.

Impaired Glucose Tolerance [IGT]: Glucose (sugar) levels that are higher than normal, but lower than those of diabetics. Even when a patient's analysis shows high levels of glucose, it is quite possible that he or she will never develop real diabetes. This syndrome used to be known as "borderline", "sub-clinical", "chemical" or "latent diabetes".

Impotence: This is the loss of the capacity of erection and ejaculation in men. Some men will become impotent if their nerves are damaged as a result of long-standing diabetes. Sometimes this problem is totally unrelated to diabetes and can be adequately treated in other ways.

Insulin Allergy: Allergic reactions to bovine, porcine or bacterial insulin, which are different from the human variety, or include impurities, may cause this. Local symptoms such as reddening of the skin and itching around the insulin injection area can appear. The general reaction or systematic allergy produces urticaria or red patches all over the body, or can cause a sense of alterations in the heart rate and breathing. Medical treatment options for this allergy may include prescribing purified insulin or carrying out a "de-sensitizing" program.

Insulin Reaction: An excessively low level of glucose (sugar) in the blood (hypoglycemia). This happens when the diabetic has injected himself with too much insulin, has not eaten enough or has taken exercise with no additional nourishment. He may feel hungry, nauseous, weak, nervous, trembly, confused and sweaty. In general, In general, eating small amounts of sugar or drinking fruit juices or sweet beverages will help the person concerned feel better after 10-15 minutes. See hypoglycemia; Insulin shock.

Insulin Resistance: This happens when the body does not allow the insulin to do its job. To normalize the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood, the diabetic can inject very high daily doses of insulin (200 units or more) or change to a purer variety of insulin. This insulin resistance is also called "insulin insensitivity". It may present when body weight is excessive, and often improves when the diabetic loses weight.

Insulin Shock: A serious condition occurring when blood glucose (sugar) levels drop rapidly. The symptoms are: trembling, sweating, dizziness, double vision, convulsions and collapse. Insulin shock can present when an insulin reaction is not treated quickly enough.

Insulin-Induced Atrophy: Small hollows in the skin caused by repeated injections in one spot. They are harmless.

Insulin-Induced Hypertrophy: Small lumps under the skin which appear after repeated injections at one spot.

Insulinoma: A beta-cell tumor in pancreatic sites known as "Langerhans islets". Although generally non-cancerous, these tumors can cause additional insulin production by the body, and lead to an excessively low level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.

Intermittent Claudication: Pain in the leg muscles, almost always when walking or exercising, which ends in lameness (claudication). The pain is caused by the narrowing of the blood vessels irrigating the muscles.

Ketonuria: Presence of ketonic bodies in the urine: a warning sign of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA ).

Ketosis: A state in which ketonic bodies accumulate in the body's tissues and fluids. The signs of ketosis are nausea, vomiting and gastric pain. Ketosis can lead to ketoacidosis.

Kidney Disease: Nephropathy. Any one of various chronic ailments caused by kidney cell lesions. It may be observed in chronic diabetes.

Kussmaul Breathing: This is rapid, deep and labored breathing by patients with ketoacidosis or who are in a diabetic coma. It is also called "air starvation".

Lactic Acidosis: An accumulation of lactic acid in the body. Cells form lactic acid when they use glucose (sugar) to obtain energy. If body lactic acid is excessive, an imbalance takes place, and the person affected will begin to feel sick. The signs of lactic acidosis are fast, deep breathing, vomiting and abdominal pain. Lactic acidosis can be a diabetic ketoacidosis or an illness of the liver or the kidney.

Lipoatrophy: Small skin grooves resulting from repeated injections at one point.

Lipodystrophy: Small lumps or hollows in the skin formed by repeated injections at one point. Lipodystrophies are harmless. When one wishes to avoid them, injections must be given at alternated locations. The new purified insulin varieties can also help.

Macroangiopathy: This is a macrovascular disease of the major blood vessels that appears with chronic diabetes, due to the accumulation of fats and blood clots adhered to their walls.

Macular Oedema: Swelling (oedema) in the macula, a point near the center of the retina which is used for reading or close-up vision. Macular oedema is a common complication associated with diabetic retinopathy.

Microaneurysm: Tiny bags that form at the side of tiny blood vessels, these bags can burst and bleed into surrounding tissue. Diabetics sometimes have microaneurysms in the retinas of their eyes.

Microangiopathy: A microvascular disease. A disease of the smaller blood vessels, particularly in chronic diabetes. Vessel walls become abnormally thick, but weaken, and consequently bleed, releasing protein and slowing blood flow. The slowing of blood irrigation can cause lesions in organs and tissues.

Mononeuropathy: A form of diabetic neuropathy that affects only one nerve. The eye is a frequent site for this type of nervous lesion.

Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum: Skin lesions generally on the inner side of the legs. They can be small or very extensive. They are almost always protruding and of a yellow, waxy appearance, often with purple edges. Young women are mostly affected. They are observed in diabetics but may also appear in non-diabetics.

Nephropathy: A disease of the kidneys caused by lesions to small blood vessels or to the areas in the kidneys that filter blood. Long-standing diabetics may have kidney lesions. Diabetic Nephropathy.

Neuropathy: A disease of the nervous sytem.

Nonketotic Coma: This type of coma is caused by insufficient insulin. The nonketotic crisis implies: (1) extremely high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood; (2) an absence of ketoacidosis; (3) a major loss of body fluids; and (4) a state of somnolence, confusion or coma. Frequently, the nonketotic coma is a result of other problems, such as a serious infection or kidney insufficiency.

Oedema: Tumefaction or swelling of some part of the body, such as the ankles. Water and other liquids accumulate inside cells, resulting in the swelling of the body part.

Pancreatitis: The inflammation (pain, hyper-sensitivity) of the pancreas, capable of paralyzing this organ. Causes are over-indulgence in alcoholic spirits, gall-bladder disease or a virus.

Periodontal Disease: Damage to gums. Diabetics are more prone to this condition than non--diabetics. It also bears the name of alveolar pyorrhea and parodontosis.

Peripheral Vascular Disease [PVD]: A disease of the blood vessels of arms, legs and feet. It is present in chronic diabetes. Insufficient blood flow is present in arms, legs and feet. Symptoms are pains and soreness of limbs and feet (especially when walking) and slowly healing sores on feet. Although it is not always possible for diabetics to avoid peripheral vascular disease, according to physicians the risk may be lessened by adequate care of the feet, avoiding smoking, and keeping a close check on blood pressure and glucose levels.

Polydipsia: Intense and long-lasting thirst. It is a sign of diabetes.

Polyphagia: Ravenous hunger; this is a sign of diabetes. People who are ravenously hungry often lose weight.

Polyuria: The need to urinate frequently; this is a normal symptom of diabetes.

Pre-eclampsia: This is a condition sometimes observed in diabetic women during the last three months of pregnancy. Two signs of this condition are high blood pressure and swellings due to liquid retention by body cells.

Previous Abnormality of Glucose Tolerance [PrevAGT]: This term indicates the illness suffered by those who showed high levels of blood glucose (sugar) when checked for diabetes in the past, but who currently show normal results. This syndrome was formerly known as "latent diabetes" or "pre-diabetes".

Proteinuria: An excess of protein in the blood. It may indicate a kidney lesion.

Retinopathy: A disease of the capillaries (small blood vessels) of the eye retina.

Shock: A serious condition causing major disturbances in the body. When the glucose (sugar) level in the blood drops suddenly a diabetic can experience shock.

Somogyi Effect: This is a sudden climb to high glucose (sugar) level in the blood from an extremely low level, which usually occurs after an untreated nocturnal insulin reaction. It is enhanced by the production of stress hormones to counteract the low glucose levels. Diabetics who show high levels of glucose in the morning may have to check their blood glucose levels at midnight. If these happen to be low or dropping, it might be advisable to modify the insulin dosage at night (nocturnal diet).

Thrush: Mouth infection. In diabetics, it may be caused by high concentrations of glucose (sugar) in mouth fluids, which contributes to the growth of the fungi responsible for the infection. Whitish patches on the skin inside the mouth are signs of this illness.

Ulcer: A lesion on the surface of the skin; a deep wound. Diabetics can develop these as a result of slight scratches on the feet or legs, or from non-healing sores that are produced by friction from ill-fitting shoes. These ulcers can become infected.

Vaginitis: A vaginal infection, usually due to a fungus. It causes itching and sometimes exudation. Vaginitis presents more often in diabetic women than in non-diabetics.