Diabetes Glossary

Here are some common words related to diabetes that you may hear or read about:

A1C test
See Hemoglobin A1C Test

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Beta cells
Cells in the pancreas that make insulin.

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Blood sugar
Also called blood glucose, this is the body's main source of energy.

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Blood sugar level
The amount of glucose, or sugar, in your blood. It is measured in terms of milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dL.

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Carbohydrates
The major source of energy for the body. The body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, which provides calories and energy.

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Combination therapy
In type 2 diabetes, using more than one medicine to help manage high blood sugar.

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Complications
Harmful conditions that type 2 diabetes can cause, like kidney damage, heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, and poor eyesight.

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Congestive heart failure (CHF)
A condition in which the heart loses pumping power, causing the build-up of fluids in the body, especially in the lungs and feet.

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Gestational diabetes
High blood sugar levels that develop during pregnancy; this condition usually goes away after delivery, but increases the woman’s risk for diabetes.

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Glimepiride
A medicine (from the sulfonylurea class) used to treat high blood sugar that helps the pancreas release more insulin.

Avandaryl combines Avandia and glimepiride.

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Heart attack
See Myocardial Infarction.

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Heart failure
See Congestive Heart Failure.

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Hemoglobin (HbA1c) A1C test
Blood test to measure average blood sugar levels over the last 3 months. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends reaching an A1C level of 6.5 percent or less. However, A1C goals are individual, so your doctor will tell you where you need to be.

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Hormone
A chemical that certain cells in the body make to help other cells work. For example, the pancreas makes the hormone insulin to help the body use glucose as energy.

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Hyperglycemia
High blood sugar levels.

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Hypoglycemia
Low blood sugar levels.

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Insulin
A hormone produced by the pancreas that helps the body's cells use sugar for energy.

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Insulin resistance
A major factor in developing type 2 diabetes. It develops when the body does not respond to insulin as it should.

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Metformin
A medicine (from the biguanide class) used to treat high blood sugar that mainly works by reducing the amount of glucose made by the liver.

Avandamet combines Avandia and metformin.

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Myocardial infarction
The death of part of the heart muscle due to lack of oxygen. Also known as a heart attack.

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Neuropathy
Nerve damage; a complication of type 2 diabetes.

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Nephropathy
Kidney disease; a complication of type 2 diabetes.

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Pancreas
A large gland behind the stomach that makes and secretes insulin and other hormones that help regulate blood glucose levels.

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Retinopathy
Disease of the small blood vessels in the retina (back of the eye); can be a complication of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

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Stroke
Condition caused by damage to blood vessels in the brain; can be a complication of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

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Thiazolidinediones (TZDs)
Medicines that make cells more sensitive to insulin and also reduce glucose production in the liver.

Avandia is a medicine in this class.

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Type 1 diabetes
Type of diabetes in which the body makes little or no insulin. Type 1 diabetes often affects children, but adults can develop it, too.

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Type 2 diabetes
The most common form of diabetes, in which the body’s cells don’t respond properly to insulin (insulin resistance) or the body does not make enough insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels.

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Important Safety Information for Avandia^® (rosiglitazone maleate)

Avandia, along with diet and exercise, helps improve blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Avandia can cause or worsen heart failure. If you have severe heart failure (very poor pumping ability of the heart), you cannot be started on Avandia. Avandia is also not recommended if you have heart failure with symptoms (such as shortness of breath or swelling) even if these symptoms are not severe.

Avandia may increase your risk of other heart problems that occur when there is reduced blood flow to the heart, such as chest pain (angina) or heart attack (myocardial infarction). This risk appeared higher in patients taking medicines called nitrates or insulin. Taking Avandia with insulin or with nitrates is not recommended.

If you have chest pain or a feeling of chest pressure, you should seek immediate medical attention, regardless of what diabetes medicines you are taking.

If you take Avandia, tell your doctor right away if you:

• Have swollen legs or ankles, a rapid increase in weight or difficulty breathing, or unusual tiredness
• Experience changes in vision
• Become pregnant

Review your medical history and tell your doctor if you:

• Have heart failure or other heart problems
• Have liver problems or liver disease
• Are pregnant or are nursing

Women taking Avandia should know that Avandia may increase the risk of pregnancy.

More fractures have been observed in women taking Avandia.

For more information about Avandia, please see Medication Guide. For further information on Avandia, please see full
Prescribing Information.

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