A plain-English glossary of the terms you’ll meet when living with — or learning about — diabetes. Every entry links to where the topic is covered in more depth on this site.
A
ACE inhibitor / ARB. Two classes of blood-pressure medication (e.g. ramipril, losartan) that protect the kidneys when there is protein leak in the urine.
ADAG study. The 2008 trial that produced the formula linking HbA1c to estimated average glucose. Used in our HbA1c calculator.
Albumin / albuminuria. A protein that should not appear in urine. Its presence suggests early diabetic kidney damage. Measured by uACR (see U).
AGP — Ambulatory Glucose Profile. The standard CGM report layout showing average glucose, time-in-range, variability, and a 24-hour pattern.
Autoimmune. When the immune system attacks the body’s own tissue. The cause of ٹائپ 1 ذیابیطس (immune attack on insulin-producing cells).
B
Basal insulin. Long-acting insulin given once or twice a day to cover background glucose needs (e.g. glargine, degludec, detemir).
Beta cells. Pancreatic cells that produce insulin. Destroyed in type 1 diabetes; gradually fail in type 2.
BMI — Body Mass Index. Weight (kg) ÷ height (m)². Use our BMI calculator with NICE-aligned ethnicity-specific thresholds.
Bolus insulin. Rapid- or short-acting insulin given at meals to cover the carbohydrate. See our carb & bolus calculator.
C
C-peptide. A by-product of insulin production. Used to confirm whether someone still produces their own insulin (low/absent in type 1, often present in type 2).
Carbohydrate counting. Matching mealtime insulin doses to grams of carbohydrate in food. The basis of every insulin pump’s bolus calculator.
CGM — Continuous Glucose Monitor. A wearable sensor that measures interstitial glucose every few minutes (Libre, Dexcom, Eversense, Stelo).
CKD — Chronic Kidney Disease. Diagnosed when eGFR is below 60 ml/min/1.73m² or uACR is ≥ 3 mg/mmol, sustained over 3 months. Use our eGFR calculator.
Correction dose. Insulin given to bring an above-target glucose back to target. Calculated using the insulin sensitivity factor (ISF).
D
Dawn phenomenon. Early-morning rise in glucose driven by overnight cortisol and growth-hormone release. Common in both type 1 and type 2.
DCCT. The 1993 Diabetes Control and Complications Trial that established that tight glycaemic control reduces complications in type 1 diabetes. The HbA1c % scale uses DCCT-aligned units.
DKA — Diabetic Ketoacidosis. A serious complication where the body breaks down fat for fuel, producing acidic ketones. Most often in type 1 diabetes. Always seek urgent medical care.
DPP-4 inhibitor. Oral diabetes medication (sitagliptin, linagliptin) that prolongs natural GLP-1 activity. See medications guide.
E
eAG — estimated Average Glucose. The HbA1c value translated into the units you see on a glucometer. Convert here.
eGFR. Estimated glomerular filtration rate. The headline number for kidney function.
EMPA-REG OUTCOME. The 2015 trial that showed empagliflozin (an SGLT2 inhibitor) reduces cardiovascular death — the result that reshaped diabetes medication choice.
Endogenous insulin. Insulin produced by the body’s own pancreas, as opposed to injected insulin.
F
Fasting glucose. Blood glucose measured after 8+ hours without food. Diagnostic threshold for diabetes: ≥ 7.0 mmol/L (126 mg/dL).
Finerenone. A non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist for type 2 diabetes with chronic kidney disease (brand name Kerendia).
Flash glucose monitoring. A type of CGM (e.g. FreeStyle Libre) where the user “flashes” or scans the sensor to see readings. Now usually integrated into smartphone apps.
Fructosamine. An alternative to HbA1c for tracking glucose control over the previous 2–3 weeks. Useful when HbA1c is unreliable (anaemia, pregnancy, transfusion).
G
Gestational diabetes. Diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Usually resolves after delivery but raises future type 2 risk.
GIP. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide — a gut hormone. The “GIP” half of dual-action drugs like tirzepatide.
Glargine, degludec, detemir. Long-acting (basal) insulin formulations.
GLP-1 receptor agonist. A class of injectable diabetes medication (semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide) that mimics the gut hormone GLP-1.
Glucagon. The hormone that raises glucose. Available as an emergency injection (or nasal spray) for severe hypoglycaemia.
Glycaemic index (GI). A 0–100 scale for how fast a carbohydrate raises glucose. Glucose = 100. Whole oats ≈ 55, white bread ≈ 75.
GMI — Glucose Management Indicator. An HbA1c-equivalent calculated from CGM data. Calculate yours.
H
HbA1c. Glycated haemoglobin — your average blood glucose over the previous 8–12 weeks, measured as a percentage (DCCT) or in mmol/mol (IFCC).
HOMA-IR. A calculation using fasting glucose and fasting insulin to estimate insulin resistance.
Honeymoon period. The brief phase after type 1 diagnosis when the pancreas still produces some insulin, lowering injected-insulin needs.
Hyperglycaemia. Blood glucose above target.
Hypoglycaemia (hypo). Blood glucose below 3.9 mmol/L (70 mg/dL). Treat with 15 g fast-acting carbohydrate, recheck in 15 minutes — the “15/15 rule.”
I
I:C ratio (insulin-to-carb ratio). How many grams of carbohydrate are covered by 1 unit of rapid-acting insulin. Used in carb counting.
IFCC. The international body that standardised the mmol/mol scale for HbA1c. UK and most of Europe use IFCC; US uses NGSP (% scale).
Insulin pump. A device that delivers continuous subcutaneous insulin. Increasingly paired with CGMs as automated insulin delivery (AID) or “hybrid closed loop.”
Insulin resistance. When body tissues stop responding properly to insulin’s signal. The upstream driver of type 2 diabetes. Pillar guide.
ISF — Insulin Sensitivity Factor. How much one unit of insulin lowers blood glucose. Used for correction doses.
J
Juvenile diabetes. Older term for type 1 diabetes — no longer used clinically because type 1 can be diagnosed at any age.
K
KDIGO. Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes — the international body whose CKD staging is used worldwide.
Ketoacidosis. See DKA.
Ketones. Acidic by-products of fat breakdown. Mildly elevated in nutritional ketosis (very-low-carb diet); dangerously high in DKA.
Ketogenic diet. Very-low-carbohydrate (typically <50 g/day) eating that shifts the body into nutritional ketosis.
L
LADA. Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults — slowly-progressing autoimmune diabetes that’s often initially misdiagnosed as type 2.
Liraglutide, dulaglutide, semaglutide, tirzepatide. GLP-1 receptor agonists (and tirzepatide is dual GIP/GLP-1).
M
Macrovascular complications. Damage to large blood vessels — heart attack, stroke, peripheral arterial disease.
Microvascular complications. Damage to small blood vessels — eyes (retinopathy), kidneys (nephropathy), nerves (neuropathy).
Metformin. First-line oral medication for most adults with type 2 diabetes. Reduces liver glucose output and improves insulin sensitivity.
MODY. Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young — an inherited single-gene form of diabetes.
N
NAFLD / MASLD. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (now called metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease). Closely linked to type 2 diabetes.
Nephropathy. Kidney disease caused by diabetes.
Neuropathy. Nerve damage caused by diabetes — typically affects the feet first.
NICE. The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence — produces the official UK diabetes guidelines (NG28 for adults, NG17 for type 1, NG18 for children).
O
OGTT — Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. 75 g oral glucose challenge with blood sugar measured at 0 and 2 hours. The diagnostic test for gestational diabetes.
Ozempic. Brand name for once-weekly injectable semaglutide (a GLP-1 receptor agonist).
P
Postprandial. “After meal.” Postprandial glucose = glucose 1–2 hours after eating.
Pre-diabetes. HbA1c 42–47 mmol/mol (6.0–6.4%) or fasting glucose 5.6–6.9 mmol/L. NICE prefers the term “non-diabetic hyperglycaemia.”
Q
QRISK3. The UK’s validated 10-year cardiovascular risk score, used by GPs to decide on statin therapy.
R
Remission. HbA1c below 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) sustained for at least 3 months without glucose-lowering medication. The clinical term for “reversed type 2 diabetes.”
Retinopathy. Damage to the retina caused by diabetes. Detected by annual NHS Diabetic Eye Screening.
S
SGLT2 inhibitor. Class of oral diabetes medication (empagliflozin, dapagliflozin, canagliflozin) that causes glucose to be excreted in the urine. Strong cardiovascular and kidney benefits.
Sliding scale. A correction-dose table — older approach to insulin adjustment.
Sulfonylurea. Older oral diabetes medication (gliclazide, glimepiride) that stimulates insulin release. Effective but causes weight gain and hypoglycaemia risk.
T
Time-in-range (TIR). The percentage of CGM readings between 3.9 and 10.0 mmol/L (70–180 mg/dL). International target ≥ 70% for most adults.
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro). Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist. The first dual-action injectable for type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes. Autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells. Always requires insulin replacement. Read more.
Type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance progressing to insufficient insulin production. The most common form (~90% of cases). Pillar guide.
U
uACR — urinary Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio. A urine test that picks up early protein leak from the kidneys. Annual screening in NICE NG28.
Ultra-processed food (UPF). Industrially formulated foods. Higher consumption is associated with increased type 2 diabetes risk independent of calorie or carb content.
V
Visceral fat. Fat stored around the organs. The metabolically harmful kind. Worse for insulin resistance than subcutaneous fat.
W
Wegovy. Brand name for higher-dose semaglutide licensed for chronic weight management.
WHO. World Health Organization — defines the global diagnostic criteria for diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 6.5%, fasting glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/L).
This glossary is reviewed against current NICE, NHS, ADA, and Diabetes UK guidance. Last reviewed: May 2026. If a term you’re looking for isn’t here, let us know via the contact page.
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