Gatekeeper: This is a portal of entry health care provider for members of certain groups such as HMO’s. In this
system a gatekeeper is a clinician that is always the patient’s first contact for health problems. A gatekeeper then
determines whether access to other expanded healthcare specialists and services is warranted.
Gestational Diabetes: A type of diabetes mellitus that can sometimes occur during pregnancy. A diagnosis of
gestational diabetes doesn't mean that you had diabetes before you conceived, or that you will have diabetes
after giving birth. It is just a simple fact that during pregnancy, usually around the twenty-forth week, many women
develop gestational diabetes.
Ghrelin: Ghrelin is known as the hunger hormone. It’s made in the stomach, and it tells the brain when it’s time
to eat. Ghrelin doesn’t cause obesity, but scientists think taming it might help us get our scales back in balance.
Glucagon: A hormone secreted by the pancreas that raises blood glucose levels. Its effect is opposite that of
insulin, which lowers blood glucose levels. Glucagon and insulin are part of a balanced feedback system that
keeps blood glucose levels at a stable level.
Glucose: Our body's primary source of energy takes the form of glucose. This type of sugar comes from
digesting carbohydrates into a chemical that we can easily convert to energy or store in the form of glucagon in
the liver. When glucose levels in the bloodstream aren't properly regulated, one can develop a serious condition,
such as diabetes.
Glycemic Index (GI): Not all carbohydrate foods are created equal; in fact they all can and do have different effects
in the body. The glycemic index or GI describes the differences by ranking carbohydrates according to their effect
on our blood glucose levels. Choosing low GI carbohydrates, the ones that produce only small fluctuations in our
blood glucose and insulin levels, is the secret to long-term health. Low GI carbohydrates are the key to reducing
the risk of heart disease and diabetes and can provide a path to sustainable weight loss.
Golfer's Elbow: A type of acute tendinitis and associated elbow pain that originates near the inside part of the
elbow’s bony protrusion. Tendinitis of the elbow is the most common overuse injury of the elbow. Elbow injuries
can be secondary to an injury elsewhere in the body. The elbow injury may be caused by the body compensating
for an injury to the neck, shoulder or wrist.
Goniometer: An instrument that measures spinal and extremity ranges of motion.