Glossary of Diabetes

Saccharin: A man-made sweetener that people use in place of sugar because it has no calories.
Saturated fat: A type of fat that comes primarily from animals. See also: Fats.
Secondary diabetes: When a person gets diabetes because of another disease or because of taking certain drugs or chemicals.
Secrete: To make and give off such as when the beta cells make insulin and then release it into the blood so that the other cells in the body can use it to turn glucose (sugar) into energy.
Segmental transplantation: A surgical procedure in which a part of a pancreas that contains insulin-producing cells is placed in a person whose pancreas has stopped making insulin.
Self-monitoring of blood glucose: A way as person can test how much glucose (sugar) is in the blood. Also called home blood glucose monitoring. See also: Blood glucose monitoring.
Shock: A severe condition that disturbs the body. A person with diabetes can go into shock when the level of blood glucose (sugar) drops suddenly. See also: Insulin shock.
Sliding scale: Adjusting insulin on the basis of blood glucose tests, meals, and activity levels.
Somatic neuropathy: See: Peripheral neuropathy.
Somatostatin: A hormone made by the delta cells of the pancreas (in areas called the islets of Langerhans). Scientists think it may control how the body secretes two other hormones, insulin and glucagon.
Somogyi effect: A swing to a high level of glucose (sugar) in the blood from an extremely low level, usually occurring after an untreated insulin reaction during the night. The swing is caused by the release of stress hormones to counter low glucose levels. People who experience high levels of blood glucose in the morning may need to test their blood glucose levels in the middle of the night. If blood glucose levels are falling or low, adjustments in evening snacks or insulin doses may be recommended. This condition is named after Dr. Michael Somogyi, the man who first wrote about it. Also called "rebound hypoglycemia".
Sorbitol: a kind of combination alcohol-sugar. A member of the polyol class of chemicals.
Spilling point: When the blood is holding so much of a substance such as glucose (sugar) that the kidneys allow the excess to spill into the urine. See also: Renal threshold.
Split dose: Division of a prescribed daily dose of insulin into two or more injections given over the course of a day. Also may be referred to as multiple injections. Many people who use insulin feel that split doses offer more consistent control over blood glucose (sugar) levels.
Stiff hand syndrome: Thickening of the skin of the palm that results in loss of ability to hold hand straight. This condition occurs only in people with diabetes.
Stroke: a non-traumatic interruption in the blood supply to an organ, particularly the brain. There are two varieties, the bleeding sort in which a blood vessel leaks blood into tissues. In the brain, these produce hematomas (i.e., pools of blood within the skull). The other kind is an ischemic stroke in which the flow of blood is interrupted, often because of vessel blockage by a clot or plaque. Both kill tissue and can cause considerable damage, including death.
Subclinical diabetes: A term no longer used. See: Impaired glucose tolerance.
Subcutaneous injection: Putting a fluid into the tissue under the skin with a needle and syringe. See also: Injection.
Sucrose
Sugar: A class of carbohydrates that taste sweet. Sugar is a quick and easy fuel for the body to use. Types of sugar are lactose, glucose, fructose, and sucrose.
Sulfonylureas: Pills or capsules that people take to lower the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. See also: Oral hypoglycemic agents.
Symptom: A sign of disease. Having to urinate often is a symptom of diabetes.
Syndrome: A set of signs or a series of events occurring together that make up a disease or health problem.
Syndrome X/Metabolic syndrome: DM type II clustered with other diseases that feature insulin resistance.
Syringe
Systemic: Conditions that affect the entire body. Diabetes is a systemic disease because it involves many parts of the body such as the pancreas, eyes, kidneys, heart, and nerves.
Systolic blood pressure: See: Blood pressure.