A1C: A test that measures how much glucose has been sticking during the past 3–4 months to hemoglobin , the substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen to the cells of the body. The A1C test is important in diabetes as a long-term measure of control over blood glucose . Even outside of diabetes, an elevated A1C level may be a cardiovascular risk factor.
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Blood: The familiar red fluid in the body that contains white and red blood cells, platelets, proteins, and other elements. The blood is transported throughout the body by the circulatory system. Blood functions in two directions: arterial and venous. Arterial blood is the means by which oxygen and nutrients are transported to tissues while venous blood is the means by which carbon dioxide and metabolic by-products are transported to the lungs and kidneys, respectively, for removal from the body.
Blood glucose: The main sugar that the body makes from the food in the diet. Glucose is carried through the bloodstream to provide energy to all cells in the body. Cells cannot use glucose without the help of insulin .
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Blood sugar: Blood glucose. See also: High blood sugar; Low blood sugar.
Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus . Diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus share the name "diabetes" because they are both conditions characterized by excessive urination (polyuria).
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Finger stick: A procedure in which a finger is pricked with a lancet to obtain a small quantity of capillary blood for testing. Also called a finger prick.
Glucose: The simple sugar (monosaccharide) that serves as the chief source of energy in the body. Glucose is the principal sugar the body makes. The body makes glucose from proteins, fats and, in largest part, carbohydrates. Glucose is carried to each cell through the bloodstream. Cells, however, cannot use glucose without the help of insulin . Glucose is also known as dextrose.
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Hemoglobin: The oxygen-carrying pigment and predominant protein in the red blood cells . Hemoglobin forms an unstable, reversible bond with oxygen. In its oxygenated state it is called oxyhemoglobin and is bright red. In the reduced state it is called deoxyhemoglobin and is purple-blue.
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Hemoglobin A1C: The main fraction of glycosylated hemoglobin (glycohemoglobin) which is hemoglobin to which glucose is bound. Hemoglobin A1C is tested to monitor the long-term control of diabetes mellitus .
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Lancing device: A device that holds a lancet firmly, and when triggered, moves the lancet linearly ahead to prick the skin in a controlled manner. Lancing devices usually can be adjusted to alter the depth that the lancet goes into the skin. The purpose is to obtain a small amount of capillary blood for testing. Also called a lancet device.
Microvascular: Pertaining to the microvasculature, the portion of the vasculature of the body consisting of the smaller vessels, those with an internal diameter of at most 100 microns. In contrast to macrovascular.
Normal range: By convention, the normal range for whatever (a particular test, condition, symptom, behavior, etc.) is set to cover ninety-five percent (95%) of all values from the general population. Five percent (5%) of results consequently fall outside the normal range. Values that prove normal can therefore sometimes be outside the normal range.
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Proteins: Large molecules composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific order determined by the base sequence of nucleotides in the DNA coding for the protein.
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Range: In medicine and statistics, the difference between the lowest and highest numerical values. For example, if five premature infants are born weighing two, three, four, four, and five pounds respectively, the range of their birth weights is two to five pounds.
Red blood cells: The blood cells that carry oxygen. Red cells contain hemoglobin and it is the hemoglobin which permits them to transport oxygen (and carbon dioxide). Hemoglobin, aside from being a transport molecule, is a pigment. It gives the cells their red color (and their name).
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- repaglinide, Prandin - Information about repaglinide (Prandin), a drug prescribed for the treatment of high blood sugar (glucose) in patient's with diabetes.
- Hemoglobin - Read about hemoglobin - the protein molecule in red blood cells. Learn what normal, low, and high level hemoglobin counts mean on MedicineNet.com
- Diabetes - Learn about type 1 and 2 diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus) symptoms including increased urination, thirst, weight loss, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, skin infections, and blurred vision. Causes and diagnosis information is provided in the information.
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