There are some terms that get thrown around from people with diabetes that can seem a little confusing for people that are not familiar with diabetes. This page is here to help you understand the “Diabetes Slang”

General

T1d: Type one diabetes

DOC: Diabetes online community

Type 3, Type F: Person who loves and supports a diabetic

Endo: Short for endocrinologist (a diabetes doctor)

Blood sugar

Hypo: Low Blood Sugar

I’m high: I have a high blood sugar

Hypostash: Snacks/drinks to bring up your blood sugar. Most likely stored near your bed and around your apartment/house

Crashing: When your sugar is dropping fast

Hypo-hangover: If you are over-treating a low and therefore go high and feel like sh**

Unicorn: 100mg/dl, 5.5 mmol/l or the same number on your cgm and glucose meter

Poker: Other word for a lancing device

 

Pump and Injections

Cgm: Continuous Glucose Monitoring –> a sensor that monitors your blood glucose numbers at all times. Numbers can be seen on the pump or on your phone (depending on the provider)

MDI: Multiple daily Injections (if you are not on a pump)

Site: Place where your insulin goes into your body if you are wearing a pump

Roller Coaster: If your numbers are all over the place on your cgm

 

Insulin

Basal: Insulin used to cover your bodies own glucose stores. Usually a small dose of fast acting insulin given every hour on the pump or a long acting insulin given once or twice a day if you are on MDI

Bolus: Fast acting insulin used to cover everything you are eating

A1c/HbA1c: Test that measures your average blood sugar control for the past 3 months. Indicated in %.

Fiasp, Novorapid/Novolog, Humalog, Apidra: different short acting insulins

Lantus, Levemir, Tresiba: different long acting insulins

 

Dia – What?

Diabuddy: A friend that has diabetes as well

Diaversary: The day you were diagnosed with diabetes. Can get celebrated like a birthday

Diabadass: Person who crushes/rocks their diabetes