Glossary
32 terms explained in plain language, linked across our guides.
BMI
BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared (kg/m²), used to classify overweight and obesity.
Cardiologist
A cardiologist is a physician specialising in heart and blood vessel diseases, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, and hypertension.
CDSCO
CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) is India's national authority that approves pharmaceuticals and issues safety advisories.
Diabetologist
A diabetologist is a physician specialising in diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus and related metabolic conditions.
Dose Titration
Dose titration means starting at a low medicine dose and increasing stepwise over weeks under medical supervision.
Endocrinologist
An endocrinologist is a doctor specialising in hormones and metabolic diseases including diabetes, thyroid disorders, and obesity.
Gastric Emptying
Gastric emptying is the rate at which food leaves the stomach into the small intestine.
Generic Drug
A generic drug contains the same active ingredient as a branded medicine, meeting CDSCO bioequivalence and quality standards at lower cost.
GIP
GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) is a gut incretin that stimulates insulin release and affects fat metabolism.
GLP-1
GLP-1 is a hormone released from the intestine after eating that stimulates insulin release, reduces glucagon, slows stomach emptying, and promotes satiety.
GLP-1 Receptor Agonist
A GLP-1 receptor agonist is a medication that activates GLP-1 receptors to improve blood sugar control and reduce appetite.
HbA1c
HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) reflects average blood glucose over approximately three months, expressed as a percentage or mmol/mol.
ICMR
ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) is India's apex body for biomedical research and national health guidelines.
Incretin
Incretins are intestinal hormones released after meals that amplify insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner.
Internal Medicine Specialist
An internal medicine specialist (internist) is a physician trained in adult medicine who manages complex chronic conditions including diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma
Medullary thyroid carcinoma is a rare cancer arising from thyroid C-cells, associated with RET mutations and MEN2 syndrome.
MEN2
MEN2 is a rare inherited syndrome causing medullary thyroid cancer, phaeochromocytoma, and hyperparathyroidism due to RET gene mutations.
NAFLD
NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) is excess fat in the liver unrelated to alcohol, linked to obesity and insulin resistance.
Nausea
Nausea is an uncomfortable urge to vomit, frequently experienced when starting or increasing GLP-1 receptor agonist doses.
Obesity
Obesity is a chronic disease of excess adiposity impairing health, in India often defined as BMI ≥25–30 depending on context and comorbidities.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas causing severe abdominal pain, often radiating to the back, with nausea and vomiting.
Patent Expiry
Patent expiry occurs when intellectual property protection ends, allowing other manufacturers to produce generic versions of a medicine.
PCOS
PCOS is a hormonal disorder with irregular periods, elevated androgens, and often insulin resistance and obesity.
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is impaired glucose regulation, typically HbA1c 5.7–6.4% or impaired glucose tolerance, increasing type 2 diabetes risk.
RSSDI
RSSDI (Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India) publishes evidence-based clinical practice recommendations for diabetes management in India.
Satiety
Satiety is the sensation of fullness and reduced desire to eat after a meal.
Schedule H
Schedule H is a category under India's Drugs and Cosmetics Act for prescription-only medicines that cannot be sold without a registered medical practitioner's prescription.
Semaglutide
Semaglutide is a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist prescribed for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management under medical supervision.
STEP Trial
STEP (Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with obesity) trials evaluated weekly semaglutide for chronic weight management.
Thin-Fat Phenotype
The thin-fat phenotype refers to normal or modest BMI with disproportionately high visceral (belly) fat and lower muscle mass, common in South Asian populations.
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide activates both GIP and GLP-1 receptors, improving blood sugar control and promoting greater weight loss than GLP-1-only agents in some trials.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterised by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency, causing elevated blood glucose.