Sugar: A simple form of carbohydrate that provides calories
and raises blood glucose levels.
Trans Fat: One of the four types of fats found in foods. Small
amounts of trans fats occur naturally in some foods, but most
trans fats are ingredients added to fast foods, prepackaged
snack and convenience foods, baked goods and restaurant
meals. Trans fats raise LDL (’bad’) cholesterol levels and lower
HDL (’good’) cholesterol levels, which increase the risk of heart
disease and stroke. Everyone should limit the amount of trans
fat they eat.
Triglyceride: The main component of vegetable oil and
animal fats. In the human body, high levels of triglycerides raise
the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Type 1 Diabetes: An autoimmune disease that occurs when
the pancreas no longer produces any insulin or produces very
little insulin. Type 1 diabetes usually develops in childhood or
adolescence and affects approximately ten per cent of people
with diabetes. There is no cure. It is treated with lifelong insulin
injections and careful attention to diet and physical activity.
Formerly called insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes: A disease that occurs when the pancreas
does not produce enough insulin to meet the body’s needs
and/or the body is unable to respond properly to the actions
of insulin (insulin resistance). Type 2 diabetes usually occurs
later in life (although it can occur in younger people) and
affects approximately ninety per cent of people with diabetes.
There is no cure. It is treated with careful attention to diet and
exercise and usually also diabetes pills (oral antihyperglycemic
agents) and/or insulin. Formerly called non-insulin-dependent
diabetes or adult-onset diabetes.
Unsaturated Fat: The ‘good’ fat found in foods, such as
avocado, nuts, and soybean, canola and olive oils. Substituting
saturated fats with unsaturated fats helps to lower levels of
total cholesterol and LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol.
Urine Tests: Tests to measure levels of substances such as
glucose or ketones in the urine.
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