U

ulcer (UL-sur):

a deep open sore or break in the skin.

ultralente (UL-truh-LEN-tay) insulin:

long-acting insulin. On average, ultralente insulin starts to lower blood glucose within 4 to 6 hours after injection. It has its strongest effect 10 to 18 hours after injection but keeps working 24 to 28 hours after injection. Also called U insulin.

unit of insulin:

the basic measure of insulin. U-100 insulin means 100 units of insulin per milliliter (mL) or cubic centimeter (cc) of solution. Most insulin made today in the United States is U-100. Syringes used must match the insulin given (i.e., U100 syringes are used for U100 insulin).

U-100:

see unit of insulin.

urea (yoo-REE-uh):

a waste product found in the blood that results from the normal breakdown of protein in the liver. Urea is normally removed from the blood by the kidneys and then excreted in the urine.

uremia (yoo-REE-mee-ah):

the illness associated with the buildup of urea in the blood because the kidneys are not working effectively. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness, and mental confusion.

urine:

the liquid waste product filtered from the blood by the kidneys, stored in the bladder, and expelled from the body by the act of urinating.

urine testing:

also called urinalysis; a test of a urine sample to diagnose diseases of the urinary system and other body systems. In people with diabetes, a veterinarian may check for

1. Glucose, a sign of diabetes or other diseases.
2. Protein, a sign of kidney damage, or nephropathy. (Also see albuminuria.)
3. White blood cells, a sign of urinary tract infection.
4. Ketones, a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis or other conditions.

Urine may also be checked for signs of bleeding. Some tests use a single urine sample. For others, 24-hour collection may be needed. And sometimes a sample is "cultured" to see exactly what type of bacteria grows.

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V

vascular (VAS-kyoo-ler):

relating to the body's blood vessels.

vein:

a blood vessel that carries blood to the heart.

very-long-acting insulin:

a type of insulin that starts to lower blood glucose within 1 hour after injection and keeps working evenly for 24 hours after injection. See glargine insulin.

very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol:

a form of cholesterol in the blood; high levels may be related to cardiovascular disease.

vitrectomy (vih-TREK-tuh-mee):

surgery to restore sight in which the surgeon removes the cloudy vitreous humor in the eye and replaces it with a salt solution.

vitreous (VIH-tree-us) humor:

the clear gel that lies behind the eye's lens and in front of the retina.

VLDL cholesterol:

see very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

void:

to urinate; to empty the bladder.

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W

wound care:

steps taken to ensure that a wound such as a foot ulcer heals correctly. People with diabetes need to take special precautions so wounds do not become infected.

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X

xylitol (ZY-lih-tall):

a carbohydrate-based sweetener found in plants and used as a substitute for sugar; provides calories. Found in some mints and chewing gum.

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