P

Pancreas

• The organ in the body which produces insulin.

Pediatrician

• A doctor who specializes in treating children.  A possible resource for women with maternal diabetes.

Periodontal Disease

• A disease of the gums characterized by the loss of the gums’ attachment to the teeth.  People with diabetes are at a higher risk of periodontal disease.

Phenylketonuria

• A genetic disorder.  One of the effects of phenylketonuria is that you can’t have aspartame.  Aspartame is often used as an artificial sweetener by diabetics who cannot eat too much sugar.

Placenta

• The organ that delivers nutrition and hormones to the fetus during pregnancy.  This will affect insulin absorption in women with maternal diabetes or gestational diabetes.

Polyunsaturated Fats

• Found in soy, corn oil, and mayonnaise.  The second healthiest kind of fat (between monounsaturated and saturated).

Postprandial

• This term means after meals (as in blood sugar tests).

Pre-diabetes

• A condition characterized by high blood sugar in an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test or a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test.  Although the blood sugar is not yet diabetic, it is elevated.  Can often lead to diabetes unless treated with proper exercise and diet.

Preprandial

• This term means before meals (as in blood sugar tests).