Glossary

Understanding diabetes can sometimes feel like learning a new language. Here is a list of key diabetes terms and their definitions to help you support a student with type 1 diabetes. 

• Basal insulin
  • Insulin that works in the background to keep blood glucose levels steady between mealtimes and overnight.
  • Also known as ‘background’ insulin.
• Bolus insulin
  • Insulin that is given at mealtimes when a student eats carbohydrates (or to correct a high glucose level – see Correction dose).
  • Bolus doses use rapid-acting insulin to manage the rise in the glucose level following a meal.
• Blood glucose levels (BGL)
  • The amount of glucose in the blood.
• Blood glucose meter
  • A device that measures and stores blood glucose levels.
• Camp diabetes management plan
  • A document developed by the student’s health professional(s) outlining their diabetes requirements for camp, including emergency plans.
• Correction dose or correction bolus
  • An additional dose of rapid-acting insulin to correct a high blood glucose level.
• Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)
  • A wearable device continually monitors glucose levels, giving alerts if levels are out of target range.
  • The device sends the data to a phone, smartwatch, pump or receiver.
• Designated staff
  • School staff trained to provide diabetes management support to students with type 1 diabetes as outlined in the diabetes management plan.
• Diabetes management plan (DMP)
  • A document developed by the young person’s health professional(s) outlining their routine diabetes management needs.
• Diabetes action (or emergency) plan
  • A document outlining the specific steps to treat low or high blood glucose levels, and what to do in emergencies.
• Fast-acting carbohydrates (carbs)
  • Carbs that raise blood glucose levels quickly.
  • Examples are jellybeans, glucose tablets, fruit juice or sweetened soft drink.
• Finger prick blood glucose check
  • A lancing device is used to prick the side of a finger to get a drop of blood. The drop of blood is placed on a monitoring strip which is inserted into a blood glucose monitor to check the blood glucose level.
• Glucagon
  • A hormone made by the pancreas to increase blood glucose levels.
  • Glucagon can also be given as an injection to treat severe hypos (e.g., when the young person has passed out or is unable to drink or eat).
• Hypo (hypoglycaemia)
  • Blood glucose levels below 4 mmol/L.
  • Also called a ‘low’.
• High (hyperglycaemia)
  • Blood glucose levels above 15 mmol/L.
• Hypo kit
  • A portable kit of supplies to treat a hypo (low).
  • Essential hypo kit supplies include:
    • blood glucose meter, monitoring strips and lancet device
    • fast-acting carbs (e.g., jellybeans or juice)
    • slow-acting carbs (e.g., muesli bars)
    • glucagon injection (if recommended).
• Insulin
  • A hormone made by the pancreas to move glucose from the bloodstream into cells to be used for energy.
• Insulin pen
  • A pen-like device used to inject insulin (used instead of syringes).
• Insulin pump
  • A small, wearable device that can deliver insulin continuously.
  • An alternative insulin delivery method to multiple daily injections (MDI).
• Interstitial fluid
  • The fluid surrounding cells, which is used by continuous glucose monitoring to measure glucose levels.
• Ketones
  • Ketones develop when the body uses fat for energy instead of glucose, which can happen when there is not enough insulin.
  • Ketones are acidic and high levels are dangerous.
  • Action is required if ketones are ≥0.6 mmol/L.
• Ketone checks
  • The most accurate way to check for ketones is to use a blood glucose meter that also checks for blood ketones.
  • Another option to check ketones is by urine, using urine ketone monitoring strips.
• Lancet device
  • A device used to prick the side of a finger to draw a blood drop for blood glucose checking.
• Multiple daily injections (MDI)
  • Injecting insulin several times a day using an insulin pen or syringe.
• Pancreas
  • An organ in the body that helps regulate blood glucose by producing hormones (insulin and glucagon) and digestive enzymes to break down food.
• Slow-acting carbohydrates (carbs)
  • Carbs that raise blood glucose levels slowly.
  • Examples are a muesli bar, banana or milk.
• Type 1 diabetes
  • An autoimmune condition where the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed and cannot make insulin, resulting in high blood glucose levels.
• Type 2 diabetes
  • A progressive condition where the pancreas cannot make any or enough insulin, or the insulin it makes does not work very well, resulting in high blood glucose levels.

Last Updated: September 2025.