Accu-Chek D-TRONplus insulin pump Reference Manual
189
Accu-Chek D-TRONplus insulin pump Reference Manual
188
Hyperglycemia
Excessively high blood glucose levels. This is observed when the person with diabetes
receives too little insulin, eats too much, performs less activity or exercise than usu-
al without adequate therapy adjustments, has more stress than usual or gets sick.The
symptoms of hyperglycemia are fatigue, dry mouth and skin, increased thirst, blurry
vision or increased urination. Prolonged hyperglycemia can lead to diabetic ketoaci-
dosis (DKA).
Hypoglycemia
Excessively low blood glucose levels. This is observed when the person with diabetes
receives too much insulin, eats too little or performs intensive activity or more exer-
cise than usual without adequate therapy adjustments. The symptoms of hypo-
glycemia are slurred speech, headache, sweating (cool), rapid heart beat, confusion/
disorientation, weakness, hunger, nervousness, tremors or coma.
Infusion set
Infusion sets connect your insulin pump to your body. The insulin is delivered from the
cartridge via the adapter through the infusion set tubing and needle/cannula into
your subcutaneous tissue.
Infusion site
The place where the infusion set needle/cannula is inserted into your subcutaneous
tissue to deliver insulin.
Insulin
A hormone that is produced in the beta cells of the pancreas (also called islets of
Langerhans). Insulin helps cells transform glucose into energy.
Insulin /carbohydrate ratio
Factor used to define the carbohydrate bolus. It shows the amount of insulin units
needed per carbohydrate exchange.
Insulin, fast-acting (insulin analogue)
Modified human insulin produced using recombinant DNA technology. The onset
time of insulin analog is 5 to 15 minutes.
Daily total
The total amount of insulin delivered (basal rate and bolus) beginning at midnight.
This amount does not include any insulin needed for the priming of infusion sets.
Dawn phenomenon
The tendency for blood glucose levels to rise early in the morning due to secretion of
hormones that counteracts insulin. As a consequence, increased basal rates in the
second half of the night may be needed.
Diabetes mellitus
A chronic disease in which the body does not produce, or does not properly use, in-
sulin. This absence or ineffectiveness of insulin leads to high blood glucose levels
which can lead to both short and long-term complications.
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
Ketones are the substances produced when blood glucose levels rise in the absence
of insulin. Large amounts of ketones in the blood can cause a life-threatening prob-
lem called diabetic ketoacidosis. The symptoms of a DKA are increased thirst and uri-
nation, nausea, vomiting and/or stomach pain, changes in or difficulty breathing, acid
or fruity smell on breath, flushing, dehydration, passing out and fatigue.
Glucose
Glucose is a form of sugar synthesized in the body from proteins and carbohydrates
(though particularly from the latter). It is the main energy source for living cells and
is transported into them via the blood stream using insulin.
HbA
1C
(Hemoglobin A
1C
)
A substance contained within the red blood cells that transport oxygen to the cells,
and to which glucose binds when blood glucose levels are high. The HbA
1C
reflects
the average blood glucose level during the 6 to 8 weeks preceding the test.
Hourly basal rate
An hourly basal rate is the amount of insulin delivered by your insulin pump in 3 mi-
nute intervals for a given hour.