diabetes

noun

di·​a·​be·​tes ˌdī-ə-ˈbē-tēz  -ˈbē-təs 

: any of various abnormal conditions characterized by the secretion and excretion of excessive amounts of urine

especially : diabetes mellitus

Examples of diabetes in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With the weight loss results that type 2 diabetes users were getting made this a popular medication for those seeking to lose weight. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2024

This is because excess belly fat promotes insulin resistance, which can contribute to high blood pressure and ultimately lead to Type 2 diabetes. —Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 4 Apr. 2024

There are about 150 possible genetic mutations that may cause type 2 diabetes. —Barbie Cervoni, Health, 2 Apr. 2024

Either way, women with PCOS have a higher risk of diabetes, excess weight gain, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. —Caroline Hopkins, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024

Saxenda is marketed by Novo Nordisk, Inc. This drug belongs to a larger class of drugs, known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which was originally introduced for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. —David Snyder, Verywell Health, 30 Mar. 2024

That’s in addition to the other serious and costly conditions that can come from untreated or mismanaged obesity—like heart disease, liver disease stroke and type 2 diabetes. —Dr. Tejaswi Kompala, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

By 2022, hospitalization rates for these diseases — such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancer — were either back to pre-COVID, 2019 levels or slightly below them. —Kunle Falayi, The Arizona Republic, 25 Mar. 2024

Its business is booming thanks to the widespread use of its diabetes drug Ozempic for weight loss and the popularity of Wegovy, which contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic. —Olesya Dmitracova, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English diabet, diabete, borrowed from Late Latin diabētēs, borrowed from Greek diabḗtēs, from diabē-, variant stem of diabaínein "to stride, walk or stand with legs apart, step across, cross over" (from dia- dia- + baínein "to step, walk") + -tēs, suffix of agency — more at come entry 1

Note: The literal sense of Greek diabḗtēs in relation to the base verb diabaínein is not entirely clear. The Greek physician Aretaeus of Cappadocia (active ca. 130-40 A.D.), author of a detailed description of diabetes mellitus (in Book 2 of De causis et signis diuturnorum morborum), takes the name of the disorder as a given, and explains it as a particular application of the word diabḗtēs, the meaning of which he seems to regard as self-evident. It has been assumed that he alludes to diabḗtēs in the sense "siphon," referring to frequent urination, as if liquid was being drawn out of the sufferer by a siphon. In the following clause, however, he maintains that moisture (tò hygrón) does not stay in the body but leaves it "as if by a diabáthrē ("hókōs diabáthrēi")." The word diabáthra (Ionic diabáthrē)—also a derivative of diabaínein—has various attested meanings: "ladder," "gangway," "bridge." The suggestion has been made that "bridge" or "channel" is the most appropriate sense, though the mixing of metaphors is perhaps an indication that the text is corrupt, or that some no longer recoverable sense of the word is in play. (See discussion in Chalmers L. Gemmill, "The Greek concept of diabetes," Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, vol. 48, no. 8 [September, 1972], pp. 1033-36.)

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing diabetes

• adult-onset diabetes
• diabetes mellitus
• diabetes insipidus
• juvenile diabetes
• non-insulin-dependent diabetes
• non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
• insulin-dependent diabetes
• juvenile-onset diabetes
• insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Kids Definition

diabetes

noun

di·​a·​be·​tes ˌdī-ə-ˈbēt-ēz  -ˈbēt-əs 

: any of various bodily conditions in which abnormally large amounts of urine are produced

especially : diabetes mellitus

Medical Definition

diabetes

noun

di·​a·​be·​tes ˌdī-ə-ˈbēt-ēz  -ˈbēt-əs 

plural diabetes

: any of various abnormal conditions characterized by the secretion and excretion of excessive amounts of urine

especially : diabetes mellitus