Terms you may come across

HbA1c – a blood test that shows long-term diabetes control over the previous 6–12 weeks

fructosamine – a blood test which reflects the average blood glucose levels over the previous 2–3 weeks

hypoglycaemia – also known as a ‘hypo’, meaning a low blood glucose level (below 4mmol/l)

hyperglycaemia – meaning a high blood glucose level (above 10mmol/l)

ketonuria – the presence of ketones in the urine, which may be due to lack of insulin

ketoacidosis – a serious condition caused by lack of insulin, which results in body fat being used up for energy. This leads to the formation of ketones (which can be detected in the urine or blood) and acids. Symptoms include high blood glucose levels, vomiting, stomach ache, drowsiness and rapid deep breathing

paediatric  diabetes care team – this is the same as children’s diabetes care team (different hospitals and diabetes care centres may use different terminology)

proteinuria – protein in the urine, which can be a sign of kidney problems