D

D&C

Dilation (dilatation) and curettage, a surgical procedure used to remove tissue from the inside of the uterus.

Decub

Abbreviation for decubitus, referring to a position of lying down.

Derm

Short for dermatology, the branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its disorders.

DI

Diabetes insipidus, a condition characterized by excessive thirst and excretion of large amounts of severely diluted urine.

DIC

Diffuse intravascular coagulation, a serious disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become overactive.

Diff

Differential count, a test that measures the percentage of different types of white blood cells in a blood sample.

DM

Diabetes mellitus, a group of diseases that result in high blood sugar (too much glucose) due to problems with insulin.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries the genetic instructions for life.

DO

Doctor of osteopathy, a physician who practices a holistic approach to medicine and is trained to perform osteopathic manipulative treatment.

DOB

Date of birth, the day when a person was born.

DTR

Deep tendon reflexes, involuntary muscle contractions that occur in response to a stimulus.

DUB

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding, abnormal bleeding from the uterus not due to any identifiable cause.

DVT

Deep vein thrombosis, the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the legs.

DX

Diagnosis, the identification of the nature and cause of an illness.