Diabetes Glossary: E
Description
This article is from the Health Articles series.
Diabetes Glossary: E
Edema
A swelling or puffiness of some part of the body such as the ankles. Water or other body fluids collect in the cells and cause the swelling.
Electromyography (EMG)
Test used to diagnose neuropathy and check for nerve damage.
Emergency Medical Identification
Cards, bracelets, or necklaces with a written message used by people with diabetes or other medical problems to alert others in case of a medical emergency such as coma.
Endocrine Glands
Glands that release hormones into the bloodstream. They affect how the body uses food (metabolism). They also influence other body functions. One endocrine gland is the pancreas. It releases insulin so the body can use sugar for energy. See also: Gland.
Endocrinologist
A doctor who treats people who have problems with their endocrine glands. Diabetes is an endocrine disorder. See also: Endocrine glands.
Endogenous
Grown or made inside the body. Insulin made by a person's own pancreas is endogenous insulin. Insulin that is made from beef or pork pancreas or derived from bacteria is exogenous because it comes from outside the body and must be injected.
End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
The final phase of kidney disease; treated by dialysis or kidney transplantation. See also: Dialysis; nephropathy.
Enzymes
A special type of protein. Enzymes help the body's chemistry work better and more quickly. Each enzyme usually has its own chemical job to do such as helping to change starch into glucose (sugar).
Epidemiology
The study of a disease that deals with how many people have it, where they are, how many new cases develop, and how to control the disease.
Epinephrine
One of the secretions of the adrenal glands. It helps the liver release glucose (sugar) and limit the release of insulin. It also makes the heart beat faster and can raise blood pressure; also called adrenalin.
Etiology
The study of what causes a disease; also the cause or causes of a certain disease.
Euglycemia
A normal level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Exchange Lists
A grouping of foods by type to help people on special diets stay on the diet. Each group lists food in serving sizes. A person can exchange, trade, or substitute a food serving in one group for another food serving in the same group. The lists put foods in six groups: (1) starch/bread, (2) meat, (3) vegetables, (4) fruit, (5) milk, and (6) fats. Within a food group, each serving has about the same amount of carbohydrate, protein, fat, and calories.
Exogenous
Grown or made outside the body; for instance, insulin made from pork or beef pancreas is exogenous insulin for people.
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