blood sugar – glucose in the blood. When carbohydrates are digested they produce glucose, which circulates in the blood and is used by the body as fuel.
Glossary
Selected words and phrases
formulation – the physical form that makes an active drug into a medicine.
Different formulations include
- Pills (capsules or tablets).
- Syrups or other oral solutions.
- Injections.
- Powders.
- Creams or lotions.
A co-formulation is when two active drugs are combined. For example: when two active drugs are in the same pill.
viral load – the amount of virus in a sample of blood or other fluid. With HIV this is commonly the amount of HIV in a millilitre (mL) of blood. See viral load test.
IM (intra-muscular) – injecting into a muscle. See IV (intravenous) and SC (sub-cutaneous).
spinal tap – See lumbar puncture.