Type 1 Diabetes Care Foundations Course 
Chapter 1: Understanding Type 1 Diabetes

Lesson 2: Key T1D Terms Every Caregiver Should Know

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Learning Goal

By the end of this lesson, caregivers will be able to recognize and use the most important Type 1 Diabetes terms in everyday care situations.

Diabetes has its own language. At first, it can feel overwhelming — like learning a new subject. But knowing these terms helps you communicate clearly with doctors, teachers, and your child. It also helps you act quickly in emergencies.

Core Terms Every Caregiver Must Know

  • The amount of sugar in the blood, measured in mg/dL.

  • The life-saving hormone given by injection or pump to let sugar enter the body’s cells for energy.

  • Blood sugar below 70 mg/dL. Symptoms: shaky, sweaty, confused. Needs quick sugar.

  • Blood sugar above target (often >180 mg/dL). Symptoms: thirsty, frequent urination, tired. Needs insulin and monitoring.

  • A dose of insulin given for meals or to correct a high.

  • Background insulin that keeps blood sugar steady all day/night.

  • Tracking how many carbs a child eats to calculate insulin doses.

  • A device worn on the body that checks blood sugar continuously.

  • A dangerous emergency caused by very high blood sugar and lack of insulin.

  • Emergency medicine for severe lows (used if the child is unconscious).

  • Chemicals in the body when there’s not enough insulin. Checked with urine or blood strips.

Don’t worry if you don’t remember everything right away. Keep a printed glossary handy, and over time these terms will become second nature. The important part is knowing the difference between highs, lows, and how to treat them quickly.