Glossary of Diabetes - P

P

Pancreas

an abdominal organ with multiple functions. It is a ducted organ which produces chemicals used in the intestines for digestion. It is also an endocrine gland producing several hormones in the islets of Langerhans. The most notable of these latter is insulin.

Pancreas transplant

A surgical procedure that involves replacing the pancreas of a person who has diabetes with a healthy pancreas that can make insulin.

Pancreatectomy

A procedure in which a surgeon takes out the pancreas.

Pancreatitis

inflammation and irritation of the pancreas. Can be caused by several conditions. Infection is one, duct blockage is another.

Peak action

The time period when the effect of something is as strong as it can be such as when insulin in having the most effect on lowering the glucose (sugar) in the blood.

Periodontal disease

usually an infection or inflammation of the gums.

Periodontist

A specialist in the treatment of diseases of the gums.

Peripheral neuropathy

Nerve damage, usually affecting the feet and legs; causing pain, numbness, or a tingling feeling. Also called "somatic neuropathy" or "distal sensory polyneuropathy."

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)

Disease in the large blood vessels of the arms, legs, and feet. People who have had diabetes for a long time may get this because major blood vessels in their arms, legs, and feet are blocked and these limbs do not receive enough blood.

Peritoneal dialysis

A way to clean the blood of people who have kidney disease. See also: Dialysis.

Pharmacist

practitioner of pharmacy.

Photocoagulation

Using a special strong beam of light (laser) to seal off bleeding blood vessels such as in the eye. The laser can also burn away blood vessels that should not have grown in the eye. This is the main treatment for diabetic retinopathy.

Pituitary gland

an endocrine gland at the base of the brain. It is usually called the master gland, for its signals control the operation of most of the other endocrine glands.

Podiatrist

A doctor who treats and takes care of people's feet.

Podiatry

The care and treatment of human feet in health and disease.

Point system

A way to plan meals that uses points to rate food. The foods are placed in four classes: calories, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Each food is given a point value within its class. A person with a planned diet for the day can choose foods in the same class that have the same point values for meals and snacks.

Polydipsia

A great thirst that lasts for long periods of time; a sign of diabetes.

Polyphagia

Great hunger; a sign of diabetes. People with this great hunger often lose weight.

Polyunsaturated fats

A type of fat that usually comes from plants. See also: Fats.

Polyuria

Having to urinate often; a common sign of diabetes.

Postprandial blood glucose

Blood taken 1–2 hours after eating to see the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood.

Preeclampsia

A condition that some women with diabetes have during the late stages of pregnancy. Two signs of this condition are high blood pressure and swelling because the body cells are holding extra water.

Prevalence

rate of happening of something. Example: there is a high prevalence of sleeping amongst humans.

Previous abnormality of glucose tolerance (PrevAGT)

People who have had above-normal levels of blood glucose (sugar) when tested for diabetes in the past but who show as normal on a current test. PrevAGT used to be called either "latent diabetes" or "prediabetes."

Prognosis

Telling a person now what is likely to happen in the future because of having a disease.

Proinsulin

The substance made first in the pancreas that is then made into insulin.

Proliferative retinopathy

damage to the retina caused by growth of small blood vessels. the proliferative variety is dangerous to sight.

Prosthesis

a replacement for a body part. For instance, a foot or leg.

Protein

a class of biochemicals made from amino acids in specific sequences. Proteins can be very large molecules with very specific shapes in folds and sheets, etc. They have three prominent functions in the body. Some varieties are, save for bone, the structural components of cells and so of the body. Other varieties are enzymes, which coordinate the chemical reactions which are required for life: metabolism, protein construction and degradation, reproduction, etc. A smaller third class of proteins are hormones. Insulin, central to diabetes mellitus, is a protein and is a very small one.

Proteinuria

presence of protein in urine, and evidence of serious malfunction of the kidneys as protein is normally very carefully conserved.

Pruritus

Itching skin; may be a symptom of diabetes.

Purified insulins

Insulins with much less of the impure proinsulin. It is thought that the use of purified insulins may help avoid or reduce some of the problems of people with diabetes such as allergic reactions.