Care plan – The actions you agree as a result of your discussion with your healthcare team.
Care planning – The process by which you and your healthcare team work together to agree your care plan.
Carer – Parents, friends, relatives, partner and anyone who supports you.
Consultant physician/diabetologist – A doctor who specialises in diabetes, often (but not always) based at a hospital clinic or diabetes centre.
Diabetes specialist nurse (DSN) – A nurse with specialist expertise in diabetes who works solely with people with diabetes.
District nurse – A registered nurse responsible for providing care in the community, including care for people in their own homes, residential care homes and supporting family members.
GP – A general practitioner, who has overall responsibility for care at your local surgery. They may play a key role in monitoring your diabetes and prescribing treatment.
Health visitor – A registered nurse with qualifications in community health, including child health, health promotion and education.
Hypoglycaemia (hypo) – Low blood glucose level; usually below 4mmol/l.
Ketones – Poisonous chemicals which can be produced in the blood if the blood glucose level is high, most commonly in Type 1 diabetes.
Midwife – A person with expertise in the care of pregnant women, newborn babies and their families.
Obstetric – The care of women during pregancy, childbirth and for a period of about six weeks after the birth.
Ophthalmologist – A doctor with specialist training in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect the eyes.
Optician – A person qualified to prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems.
Optometrist – A person trained to perform eye examinations and test for eye problems. They do not treat eye disorders – see ‘ophthalmologist’.
Pharmacist – A person with expertise in the use of medicines. Many also provide lifestyle advice and carry out medicines use reviews, known as MURs.
Podiatrist – A person with expert knowledge and a recognised qualification in conditions of the foot and lower limbs.
Practice nurse – A nurse based at your surgery who may provide your diabetes care. Some may have a specialist knowledge of diabetes.
Primary Care Organisation (PCO) – The local NHS body that commissions health services. These are known as: Primary Care Trusts in England, Local Health Groups in Wales, Health Boards in Scotland, and Local Health and Social Services Boards in Northern Ireland.
Primary care – The care received from a GP surgery or in the community (but not in hospital).
Psychologist – An expert in psychology who can help you with some of the psychological difficulties of living with diabetes, anxiety or depression.
Registered dietitian – A person who can work with you to assess your eating habits and help you make lifestyle and food choices to manage your diabetes.
Secondary care – Care you receive at a hospital.
Sharps – A term used to describe any sharp pieces of medical equipment that need disposing of carefully, for example includes needles, syringes and lancets.
Sharps box – A box to dispose of your sharps, obtained on prescription.
Structured education – Education programmes for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes that fulfil national criteria set out by NICE, Department of Health and Diabetes UK.