Macrosomia: Abnormally large; in diabetes, refers to abnormally large
babies that may be born to women with diabetes.
Macrovascular Disease: Disease of the large blood vessels, such as
those found in the heart. Lipids and blood clots build up in the large blood
vessels and can cause atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, stroke, and
peripheral vascular disease.
Mastopathy Diabetic: A rare fibrous breast condition occurring in
women, and sometimes men, with long-standing diabetes. The lumps are not
malignant and can be surgically removed, although they often recur.
Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY): A kind of Type 2 diabetes
that accounts for 1 to 5 percent of people with diabetes. Of the six forms
identified, each is caused by a defect in a single gene.
Metabolic Syndrome: The tendency of several conditions to occur
together, including obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes or pre-diabetes,
hypertension, and high lipids.
Metabolism: The term for the way cells chemically change food so that
it can be used to store or use energy and make the proteins, fats, and sugars
needed by the body.
Metformin: An oral medicine used to treat Type 2 diabetes. It lowers
blood glucose by reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver and
helping the body respond better to the insulin made in the pancreas.
Microvascular Disease: A disease of the smallest blood vessels, such
as those found in the eyes, nerves, and kidneys. The walls of the vessels become
abnormally thick but weak. Then they bleed, leak protein, and slow the flow of
blood to the cells.
Miglitol: An oral medicine used to treat Type 2 diabetes. It blocks
the enzymes that digest starches in food. The result is a slower and lower rise
in blood glucose throughout the day, especially right after meals.
Mixed Dose: A combination of two types of insulin which are put into
one injection. Usually a rapid- or short-acting insulin is combined with a
longer acting insulin (such as NPH insulin) to provide both short-term and
long-term control of blood glucose levels.
Mononeuropathy: Neuropathy affecting a single nerve.
Myocardial Infarction: An interruption in the blood supply to the
heart because of narrowed or blocked blood vessels.
