Pancreas: An organ that makes insulin and enzymes for digestion. The
pancreas is located behind the lower part of the stomach and is about the size
of a hand.
Pancreas Transplantation: A surgical procedure to take a healthy whole
or partial pancreas from a donor and place it into a person with diabetes.
Peripheral Neuropathy: Nerve damage that affects the feet, legs, or
hands. Peripheral neuropathy causes pain, numbness, or a tingling feeling.
Peripheral Vascular Disease: A disease of the large blood vessels of
the arms, legs, and feet. PVD may occur when major blood vessels in these areas
are blocked and do not receive enough blood. The signs of PVD are aching pains
and slow-healing foot sores.
Pharmacist: A health care professional who prepares and distributes
medicine to people. Pharmacists also give information on medicines.
Photocoagulation: A treatment for diabetic retinopathy. A strong beam
of light (laser) is used to seal off bleeding blood vessels in the eye and to
burn away extra blood vessels that should not have grown there.
Polydipsia: Means excessive thirst, which could be a sign or symptom
of diabetes.
Polyphagia: Means excessive hunger, which may be a sign or symptom of
diabetes.
Plyuria: Means excessive urination, which may be a sign or
symptom of diabetes.
Postprandial Blood Glucose: The blood glucose level taken 1 to 2 hours
after eating.
Pre-Diabetes: A condition in which blood glucose levels are higher
than normal but are not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. People with
pre-diabetes are at increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes and for heart
disease and stroke. Other names for pre-diabetes are impaired glucose tolerance
and impaired fasting glucose.
Pre-mixed Insulin: A commercially produced combination of two
different types of insulin. See 50/50 insulin and 70/30 insulin.
Preprandial Blood Glucose: The blood glucose level taken before
eating.
Proinsulin: The substance made first in the pancreas and then broken
into several pieces to become insulin.
Proliferative Retinopathy: A condition in which fragile new blood
vessels grow along the retina and in the vitreous humor of the eye.
Prosthesis: A man-made substitute for a missing body part such as an
arm or a leg.
