Animas OneTouch Ping Owner's Booklet page 241

APPENDIX A: GLOSSARY
Glossary
alpha cells - Alpha cells are found in the
pancreas. They produce a hormone called
glucagon, which raises BG levels.
basal rate - The basal rate is the amount of insulin
that is continuously delivered by an insulin pump.
It is measured in units per hour (U/Hr). The basal
rate usually provides about 40% to 60% of the
daily total delivery of insulin.
beta cells - Beta cells are found in the pancreas.
They produce insulin, which lowers BG levels. In
type 1 diabetes mellitus, the beta cells are
destroyed, so the body can no longer produce
insulin.
blood glucose (BG) levels - BG levels are the
measure of how much glucose (sugar) is in the
blood. The normal level is about 70–110 mg/dL.
bolus - A bolus is the amount of insulin delivered
at one time, usually before a meal or when BG is
high.
cannula - A cannula is a small tube that is
inserted into the body. Some infusion sets are
designed so that only the cannula remains in the
body and the needle used for insertion is
removed.
dawn phenomenon - More insulin may be
required in the early morning hours of normal
sleep to counteract the release of several
hormones that act to increase BG levels. This
increased need for insulin is known as dawn
phenomenon and may cause a person with
diabetes to have a high BG level in the morning
upon waking. Basal rate delivery by the OneTouch
Ping ™ Insulin Pump can be programmed to
compensate for dawn phenomenon.
diabetes - Diabetes is a complex disease in
which the body cannot maintain healthy BG
levels because either enough insulin cannot be
produced or the body cannot appropriately use
insulin. In type 1 diabetes, the body no longer
produces insulin and in type 2 diabetes, the body
cannot use insulin properly.
diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) - DKA results when
there is not enough insulin available to help
glucose enter the cells where it is used for energy.
The body, in turn, burns muscle and fat for energy.
A waste product of fat burning is ketones. Ketones
accumulate in the blood and then pass through
the urine and lungs. This condition can be
identified by urine and/or blood tests. DKA
usually requires hospitalization and can be fatal if
not promptly treated.
gastroparesis - Gastroparesis is a complication of
diabetes that causes delayed emptying of the
stomach, resulting in unpredictable swings in BG
levels.
gestational diabetes - Gestational diabetes is a
form of diabetes that may develop during
pregnancy. In some women, certain hormones
normally produced by the body during pregnancy
can result in unusually high BG levels. If the body
cannot produce enough insulin, this can lead to
hyperglycemia and may require treatment with
insulin. Gestational diabetes usually ends when
the baby is born, but many mothers who
experience gestational diabetes may later develop
Type 2 diabetes.
glucagon - Glucagon is a hormone produced by
the alpha cells in the pancreas. It causes BG
levels to rise.
glucose - Glucose is a carbohydrate and the
body's most important source of energy. It is
produced from digested food, by the normal
action of the liver, and is carried by the blood
throughout the body.
hyperglycemia - Hyperglycemia is also known as
®
high blood glucose. It occurs when BG levels rise
above 180 mg/dL, and the body does not have
enough or cannot use insulin to process food.
Symptoms of hyperglycemia include nausea,
vomiting, muscle and joint aches, blurred vision,
excessive thirst, and frequent urination. Over
time, weight loss can result. Hyperglycemia can
occur even while using an insulin pump and can
lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) if untreated.
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