ketoacidosis: High levels of blood glucose, often due to insufficient insulin.
ketones: The acidic by-products that result when the body metabolizes fat, rather than sugar, to generate energy.
Kussmaul breathing: Low deep respiration in response to insufficient oxygen transport between the lungs and the blood. Named for Adolph Kussmaul, a 19th century German doctor who first noticed it among his patients. Often seen due to ketoacidosis.
lactose: A sugar found in milk.
laparoscopic surgery: Also known as Band-Aid or keyhole surgery, laparoscopic surgery is a procedure in which a small, slim camera, along with slender surgical tools, are used so that the operation is minimally invasive and reduces the potential for post-surgical scarring.
LDL cholesterol: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is a vital type of cholesterol that, in high concentrations, can clog the walls of arteries. As a result, LDL cholesterol is commonly referred to as “bad” cholesterol.
lipase: Any enzyme that triggers the breakdown and digestion of fats. Lipases are produced by the pancreas.
lipid: Fat in the body.
malignant: Can be related to tumors or any condition that is deemed to become more severe and widespread with time.
malnourished: The state of lacking the proper nutrients and substances to maintain proper bodily functions.
menopause: The time during which a woman's body stops producing progesterone and estrogen. A woman experiences menopause when she has not had a period in at least 12 months.
metabolism: The combination of processes in which any ingested substances are broken down and digested so the body can extract nutrients from them.
monounsaturated fat: A type of unsaturated fat that exists in plant-related food products, such as avocados and olive oil. These fats are considered to be healthier than other types of fats, such as trans fat and saturated fat.
morbid obesity: A term used to describe severe cases of obesity, clinically classified as being over 100 pounds overweight for one’s frame.
mortality: Simply, death or pertaining to death. In statistics, mortality refers to the rate at which people die in a particular population.
necrobiosis: Cell death within tissue.
nephrosclerosis: Also called malignant hypertension, nephrosclerosis is extreme high blood pressure that places other organs at serious risk of failure.
neuropathy: A disease of the nervous system, usually degenerative in nature.
nutrition: The act of consuming substance to gain nutrients and energy to sustain life.
nutritionist: A health care professional who specializes in nutrition and means of providing nutrition.
obesity: Excess amounts of body fat.
ophthalmologist: A doctor who specializes in diseases of the eye.
orthopedics: The sect of medicine dedicated to diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases and conditions of the skeletal system.
overweight: The state of weighing more than is ideal for one’s height and frame.
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