CDCES key terms

Blood glucose higher than normal but below the diabetes thresholds: A1C 5.7–6.4%, fasting glucose 100–125 mg/dL, or a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test of 140–199 mg/dL. It signals elevated risk and is a target for prevention.

A state in which muscle, fat, and liver cells respond poorly to insulin, so the pancreas must release more insulin to move glucose into cells. It underlies type 2 diabetes and often accompanies obesity and inactivity.

Loss or impairment of pancreatic beta cells' ability to make and release insulin in response to glucose. This progressive decline drives worsening hyperglycemia in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Immune proteins such as GAD65, IA-2, ZnT8, and insulin antibodies that attack pancreatic beta cells. Their presence confirms autoimmune type 1 diabetes and can predict progression in at-risk relatives.

Hyperglycemia first recognized during pregnancy, usually in the second or third trimester, caused partly by pregnancy hormones increasing insulin resistance. It raises risks for the pregnant person and the fetus and requires screening and treatment.

A cluster of conditions - central obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and elevated fasting glucose - that together raise the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

An early-morning rise in blood glucose caused by overnight release of growth hormone, cortisol, and other counter-regulatory hormones that increase insulin resistance. It occurs without preceding nocturnal hypoglycemia.

A large U.S. randomized trial showing that intensive lifestyle change (7% weight loss plus 150 minutes per week of activity) cut progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes by 58%, outperforming metformin.

A fragment released when the pancreas converts proinsulin into insulin, so it reflects the body's own insulin production. It helps distinguish type 1 from type 2 diabetes and track beta-cell decline over time.

A blood test that reflects average glucose over roughly the previous 2–3 months by measuring glycated hemoglobin. It is used both for diagnosis and for monitoring glycemic control, reported as a percentage.

A biguanide that lowers liver glucose production and improves insulin sensitivity. It is usually the first medication for type 2 diabetes and does not cause hypoglycemia when used by itself.

An injectable or oral drug that mimics the gut hormone GLP-1, boosting glucose-dependent insulin release, slowing gastric emptying, reducing appetite, and promoting weight loss; several agents also lower cardiovascular risk.

An oral drug that blocks sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 in the kidney, so glucose is excreted in urine. Benefits include lower weight and blood pressure plus heart and kidney protection in many patients.

An oral drug that stimulates pancreatic beta cells to release insulin regardless of the glucose level. It lowers A1C effectively but carries meaningful risk of hypoglycemia and weight gain.

An intensive regimen pairing long-acting background insulin with rapid-acting mealtime doses adjusted to carbohydrate intake and glucose readings, approximating normal pancreatic insulin release across the day.

Standard classification: Level 1 is glucose below 70 mg/dL; Level 2 is below 54 mg/dL; Level 3 is any severe event with altered mental or physical status requiring assistance, regardless of the glucose value.

A personal A1C goal chosen with the patient based on age, diabetes duration, comorbidities, hypoglycemia risk, and preferences - often below 7% for many nonpregnant adults, but higher or lower when warranted.

An oral drug that slows breakdown of the body's incretin hormones, modestly increasing glucose-dependent insulin release and lowering glucagon. It is weight-neutral with low hypoglycemia risk but limited A1C reduction.

Individualized nutrition assessment and counseling delivered by a registered dietitian nutritionist and tailored to the person's health status, culture, schedule, and goals. It is a core component of diabetes care and education.

A meal-planning method in which the person tracks grams of carbohydrate eaten and uses an insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio, or keeps intake consistent, to match insulin doses and control post-meal glucose.

A ranking of carbohydrate-containing foods by how quickly they raise blood glucose compared with a reference food. Lower-index foods digest more slowly and produce a gentler rise in glucose.

Treatment for mild hypoglycemia: eat or drink 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, wait 15 minutes, recheck glucose, and repeat until glucose is above 70 mg/dL, then eat a snack or meal if needed.

For most adults with diabetes: at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity spread over at least 3 days with no more than 2 consecutive days off, plus resistance training 2–3 times weekly.

Losing 5–10% of body weight improves glycemia, blood lipids, and blood pressure; losing 10% or more, especially soon after diagnosis, can bring type 2 diabetes into remission for some people.

Bariatric procedures such as sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass that change the digestive tract and reduce intake. They can produce substantial weight loss and improvement or remission of type 2 diabetes in eligible patients.

An ongoing, person-centered process that helps people with diabetes build the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed for daily self-care. It is delivered by qualified diabetes care and education specialists and coordinated with the care team.

Seven behaviors that frame diabetes education: healthy coping, healthy eating, being active, taking medication, monitoring, reducing risks, and problem solving. Educators use them to structure assessment and goal setting.

A collaborative counseling style using open questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries to draw out a person's own reasons for change, rather than advising, warning, or persuading them.

Emotional burden from living with and managing diabetes - worry, frustration, and burnout about self-care. It is distinct from depression and, when unaddressed, is linked to poorer glycemic outcomes.

The ability to obtain, understand, and use health information to make decisions. Low health literacy calls for plain language, teach-back, picture-based materials, and simpler medication regimens.

A conversation in which clinician and patient exchange information about options, benefits, and risks, then agree on a plan that reflects the patient's values, priorities, and life circumstances.

Conditions of where people live, work, learn, and play - income, food security, housing, transportation, and social support - that shape diabetes risk and a person's ability to self-manage day to day.

A device with a sensor under the skin that measures interstitial glucose every few minutes and sends readings to a receiver or phone, displaying trends plus alerts for impending highs and lows.

The percentage of time glucose stays within a target range, typically 70–180 mg/dL, on continuous glucose monitoring. It complements A1C by capturing daily variability and exposure to hypoglycemia.

A urine test comparing albumin with creatinine to detect early kidney damage. Two of three samples at 30 mg/g or higher indicate albuminuria and prompt kidney-protective treatment such as an SGLT2 inhibitor.

A life-threatening complication of severe insulin deficiency in which the body burns fat and produces acidic ketones. It presents with hyperglycemia, dehydration, nausea, abdominal pain, and rapid deep breathing.

A plan for managing diabetes during illness: keep taking insulin, check glucose and ketones more often, stay hydrated, and use supplemental insulin as directed to prevent ketoacidosis and severe hyperglycemia.

A screening test for loss of protective sensation in the feet: a 10-gram nylon filament is pressed against specified sites until it bends, and missed points suggest neuropathy and elevated ulcer risk.