Familial Occurrence: This refers to the pattern of a disease within a
family. Family and twin studies have shown that type 2 diabetes is far more
likely to run in families than type 1 diabetes.
Fasting Blood Glucose Test: A check of a person's blood glucose level
after the person has not eaten for 8 to 12 hours (usually overnight). This test
is used to diagnose pre-diabetes and diabetes. It is also used to monitor people
with diabetes.
Fat: One of the three main nutrients in food. Foods that provide fat
are butter, margarine, salad dressing, oil, nuts, meat, poultry, fish and some
dairy products. Or Fat can be defined as excess calories are stored as body fat,
providing the body with a reserve supply of energy and other functions.
Fibre: A type of material within foods mainly found in vegetables,
fruits and cereals that adds bulk to the diet aiding digestion.
Fluorescein Angiography: A test to examine blood vessels in the
eye; done by injecting dye into an arm vein and then taking photos as the dye
goes through the eye's blood vessels.
Fructosamine Test: Measures the number of blood glucose molecules
linked to protein molecules in the blood. The test provides information on the
average blood glucose level for the past 3 weeks.
Fructose: A sugar that occurs naturally in fruits and honey. Fructose
has 4 calories per gram.
