T1Dictionary

Also known as blood sugar, ‘blood glucose’ refers to the glucose present in your blood. This glucose mainly comes from things that you eat or drink, and needs to be broken down by insulin to supply your body with energy.

People with type 1 diabetes must count each carbohydrate gram they eat or drink. Based on that count, they dose insulin using an “insulin-to-carb” ratio, which helps maintain stable blood-sugar levels after eating.

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease. It damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People with coeliac disease can’t tolerate a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, rye and barley.

If you have 1 autoimmune condition, you have a higher chance of developing another one. This is why people with type 1 diabetes are more likely to be diagnosed with another autoimmune condition, such as coeliac disease. It’s thought that about 5 out of 100 of people with type 1 diabetes have coeliac disease.

A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is a wearable device that continuously tracks blood glucose levels, day and night, allowing users to see patterns and trends. CGM units sound an alarm if blood sugar levels are changing rapidly, helping people avoid hypoglycaemia.

When someone becomes frustrated with the stress or demands of the disease and may feel less motivated to manage their condition. Many people with T1D experience diabetes burnout at some point.

Diabetes mellitus is is the scientific name for the group of conditions commonly referred to as diabetes.

This includes type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and rare forms of diabetes like LADA, MODY and neonatal diabetes.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a complication of type 1 diabetes that occurs when ketones build up in the blood. This can happen when a person’s blood glucose is too high for too long, and can be life threatening.

Endocrinologists are doctors who specialises in conditions caused by problems with hormones, including type 1 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is different to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and usually disappears after the woman has given birth.

A GlucaGen HypoKit contains an injection of glucagon, which triggers a release of stored glucose from the liver, raising the blood glucose level. GlucaGen is available on the PBS through a prescription from your doctor.

GlucaGen is used to treat severe hypoglycaemia (or a “hypo”) in people living with diabetes who have become unconscious. It can be given by someone who has been instructed in its use, such as family members, friends or co-workers.

It’s important to let your diabetes team know if you have had an episode of hypoglycaemia needing treatment with a GlucaGen injection or ambulance assistance.

Glucagon is a hormone produced in the pancreas that raises blood glucose levels to make sure they don’t drop too low. In people with type 1 diabetes, glucagon doesn’t work as it should, meaning people with T1D are at risk of hypoglycaemia.

Also known as smart insulin, glucose responsive insulin (GRI) is a new form of insulin at an early stage of research that could “turn on” when it is needed in the body. GRI could respond to a rise in blood glucose after a meal and release insulin, then “turn off” when blood glucose levels stabilise.

HbA1c is a form of haemoglobin – a protein found in red blood cells – that is chemically linked to a sugar, usually glucose.

Measuring HbA1c gives an idea of average blood glucose levels over a period of three months – the life span of a red blood cell.

The honeymoon period is a period of time following T1D diagnosis when the pancreas is still able to produce some insulin. Some people find that they only need minimal amounts of insulin during this time to keep their blood sugar levels within the target range.

Hyperglycaemia means there is too much glucose circulating in the blood. People with T1D might experience hyperglycaemia (or a “hyper” for short) if they haven’t taken enough insulin to match the carbohydrates they have eaten, or they’re unwell.

Hypoglycaemia, also known as a ‘hypo’, is what happens when someone has a low blood glucose level (usually below 4mmol/L). It can be caused by taking too much insulin, not eating enough carbohydrates, or strenuous exercise. It’s important to treat a hypo quickly to stop blood glucose levels from falling even lower.

Sometimes, people cannot tell when their blood sugar is too low because the early warning signs aren’t triggered. This is called hypoglycaemia unawareness.

Immunosuppressive drugs stop or restrict the body’s immune system. In type 1 diabetes, immunosuppressants are used following an islet transplantation, to stop the body rejecting the new beta cells.

A hormone produced in the pancreas that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood. Insulin is the only current therapy for treating T1D, and can be basal (slow-acting) or bolus (fast-acting).

An insulin pump is a small electronic device, smaller than a mobile phone, that offers an alternate method to deliver insulin than multiple daily injections (MDI). The pump is worn outside the body and is programmed to deliver a continuous dose of rapid-acting insulin throughout the day and night.

Insulin pumps can help to improve blood glucose control, mealtime flexibility and quality of life.

Islets are clusters of cells in the pancreas that produce hormones, including insulin. Beta cells are one of the types of cell that make up an islet.

Ketones are acids that build up in the blood and urine. When the body doesn’t have enough insulin to convert sugar into energy, it starts burning fat and body tissue instead – producing ketones.

When the level of ketones in the body gets too high, this can cause diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

A Medicare card lets Australian citizens get free or cheaper health care, as well as cheaper medicine. You can use a Medicare card with doctors who bulk bill for their services and at clinic appointments in a public hospitals.

A note regarding teens and Medicare cards 

Teenagers will be listed be on their parents’ or carers’ Medicare cards until they’re 15. After that, they can apply for your own Medicare card.

They can also choose to stay on their family’s account. In that case, their parents or carers can apply for an extra card to use. Having an extra family card or the teen having their own Medicare card makes it more convenient when they go to clinic appointments on their own. It’s also handy if they’re heading away on a trip or living away from home.

TIP: Add a digital copy of your Medicare card to your phone.

Maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a rare form of diabetes that runs in families and is different from both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. There are several different types of MODY, each caused by changes in a different gene. MODY is typically diagnosed before the age of 30, but can occur at any age.

Neonatal diabetes is rare form of diabetes that develops in babies under 6 months old. It’s caused by a change in a gene, and is not an autoimmune condition like type 1 diabetes.

Neonatal diabetes can be either transient (disappearing within the first 12 weeks of life) or lifelong.

A treatment that resembles an intervention being tested but is inactive (doesn’t do anything). The placebo is used as a control. Researchers give one group an active intervention and another group an identical-looking placebo, then compare the results. 

Also known as excessive thirst, polydipsia is often one of the first signs of type 1 diabetes, as high blood glucose levels can make people feel extremely thirsty.

Also known as excessive hunger or appetite, polyphagia can sometimes be a symptom of type 1 diabetes, along with polydipsia and polyuria.

Polyuria occurs when you urinate more frequently — and often in larger amounts — than usual. It can be a symptom of type 1 diabetes.

Normally, when your kidneys create urine, they reabsorb all of the sugar and direct it back to the bloodstream. In type 1 diabetes, excess sugar ends up in the urine, where it pulls more water and results in more urine.

Rapid-acting insulin (also known as fast-acting, or mealtime insulin) is a form of insulin that starts working quickly after it’s injected. It’s usually taken before a meal, snack or drink containing carbohydrates to regulate the rise in blood glucose that follows eating.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas are mistakenly destroyed by the body’s immune system. Without insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream as the body is unable to process it.

People with T1D must replace the insulin their body doesn’t produce — either through injections or a pump.

Also known as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), this is a form of type 1 diabetes that also has things in common with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Type 1.5 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that is not treatable with diet or lifestyle changes, but is diagnosed during adulthood and often has a slow onset.

Many people with LADA are initially misdiagnosed as having T2D.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, but is very different to type 1 diabetes. It’s often diagnosed later in life, and is caused by a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors.

In type 2 diabetes, a person’s body still produces insulin, but is unable to use it effectively. It can often be managed with diet or exercise changes, but more serious cases may require insulin therapy.