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dermatofibroma

A common and benign skin tumour.

dermatomyositis

A disease characterised by inflammation and weakness of limb and neck muscles accompanied by skin lesions

DES

An abbreviation for diethylstilbestrol, a synthetic female sex hormone.

desogestrel

Hormone from the group called the progestogens.

diabetes

A disorder caused by insufficient or absent production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas, or because the tissues are resistant to the effects.

diabetes insipidus

A rare form of diabetes in which a disorder of the pituitary gland leads to the production of large volumes of very dilute urine, with consequent intense thirst.

diabetes mellitus

A disorder caused by insufficient or absent production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas,or because the tissues of the body are resistant to the effects. This results in high levels of glucose in the blood.

diabetic autonomic neuropathy

A serious but common complication of diabetes.

diabetic ketoacidosis

Condition mainly found in type 1 diabetes, in which high levels of ketones are present; these are acidic compounds produced by fat breakdown.

diagnosis

The process of determining which condition a patient may have.

diaphragm

The strong muscular sheet separating the chest and abdominal cavities

diarrhoea

When bowel evacuation happens more often than usual, or where the faeces are abnormally liquid.

DIC

An abbreviation for disseminated intravascular coagulation.

DIDMOAD syndrome

A rare inherited genetic disorder featuring diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness.

dietetics

The science of nutrition.

diethylstilbestrol

Synthetic female sex hormone sometimes abbreviated to DES.

dietitian

A specialist in food and nutrition.

differentiate

The specialisation of cells or tissues for a specific function.

differentiation

The process by which cells or tissues become specialised for a specific function.

digoxin

A drug used to treat heart failure or rhythm disorders.

diphtheria

A severe respiratory infection due to a bacterium that can cause difficulty breathing and swallowing as well as inflammation of the heart and nervous system

diplococci

Any of several round-shaped bacteria that occur in pairs.

diplopia

Double vision.

dissecting aortic aneurysm

Tearing of the inner lining of the aortic wall.