Diabetes: Fast Facts
This hormone, produced by the pancreas, helps cells absorb glucose to lower blood sugar levels.
What is insulin?
The set dollar amount you pay for certain medical visits and services.
This clear, calorie‑free beverage is the best choice for hydration because it contains no sugars or additives.
What is water?
Although a depressant, this substance can interfere with the liver’s ability to produce glucose—leading to delayed low blood sugar.
What is alcohol?
Wearing this medical accessory can alert others to a teen’s diabetes in case of an emergency.
What is a medical alert bracelet?
This tells us your average blood sugar levels over the last few months.
What is HbA1c?
The amount health insurance companies charge each month for coverage.
What is "health insurance premium"?
These green, vitamin‑packed vegetables are low in carbohydrates and add essential nutrients to a diabetic‑friendly meal.
What are leafy greens?
When alcohol is consumed alongside insulin, it may mask the early warning signs of this dangerous condition characterized by a rapid drop in blood sugar.
What is hypoglycemia?
Performing daily inspections of these body parts helps diabetic teens catch early signs of poor circulation or nerve damage.
What are feet?
This essential practice involves counting the carbohydrates in meals to determine proper insulin dosages.
What is carb counting?
The most you will have to pay in deductibles, copays, and coinsurance for covered care received in network for the year.
What is the "annual out-of-pocket limit” under a health insurance policy?
Dividing a meal so that half the plate is filled with fruits and vegetables, one quarter with lean protein, and one quarter with whole grains is a proven strategy to help stabilize blood sugar.
What is the plate method?
This process in the liver, essential for maintaining blood sugar during fasting, is inhibited by alcohol consumption.
What is gluconeogenesis?
Maintaining this daily habit, which includes brushing and flossing, is key for diabetic teens to ward off gum disease associated with high blood sugar.
What is good oral hygiene?
When blood sugar falls too low, symptoms like shaking and sweating may occur—a dangerous condition known as this.
What is hypoglycemia?
The name for permission you must get from your insurance company before surgery will be covered.
What is a “health insurance formulary?"
This proactive approach involves planning and preparing balanced meals ahead of time to avoid last‑minute unhealthy choices and maintain steady blood sugar levels.
What is meal prepping?
Recreational use of this substance—known for altering perception and appetite—can cause unpredictable blood sugar fluctuations in diabetic teens.
What is marijuana?
Designed to deliver adjustable doses of insulin throughout the day, this device offers an alternative to multiple daily injections and can be paired with CGM data for enhanced control.
What is an insulin pump?
Persistently high blood sugar can damage the small blood vessels in the eyes, leading to a complication that may result in vision loss.
What is diabetic retinopathy?
The percentage of covered health care expenses you pay after you meet your deductible.
What is "coinsurance?"
Coinsurance is a form of cost-sharing between you and the insurance company. It can apply to office visits, procedures and prescriptions. In general, plans with lower monthly premiums have higher coinsurance.
https://www.aetna.com/health-guide/health-care-knowledge-quiz.html
Mastering this skill enables diabetic teens to interpret product nutrition facts, allowing them to accurately monitor carbohydrate and sugar content for better glucose control.
What is nutrition label reading?
For diabetic teens, consistently monitoring this is critical since drug and alcohol use can cause it to fluctuate unpredictably, risking severe health emergencies.
What is blood glucose?
This continuous, wearable device monitors interstitial fluid glucose levels in real time, alerting diabetic teens to rapid changes and helping guide timely treatment decisions.
What is a continuous glucose monitor (CGM)?