diabetes insipidus

noun

diabetes in·​sip·​i·​dus -in-ˈsi-pə-dəs How to pronounce diabetes insipidus (audio)
: a disorder of the pituitary gland characterized by intense thirst and by the excretion of large amounts of urine

Examples of diabetes insipidus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Problems with vasopressin can cause a disorder first described in the 18th century as diabetes insipidus (D.I.) — a disease producing profuse and watery (insipid) urine. Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 1 Sep. 2022 Fluids are administered constantly to avoid diabetes insipidus, among other things; a healthy BHC should pee out 100 to 250 milliliters of urine per hour. Dick Teresi, Discover Magazine, 19 Feb. 2012 While most people make 1 to 3 quarts of urine a day, people with diabetes insipidus can make up to 20 quarts of urine a day. Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Oct. 2022 There is another kind of diabetes, diabetes insipidus, that is also often responsible for polyuria, explains the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Sarah Bradley, Health.com, 19 Oct. 2021 Those with diabetes insipidus would also be frequently urinating. Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, 27 Sep. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diabetes insipidus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin diabētēs insipidus, literally, "bland diabetes," referring to the lack of sweetness in the urine

Note: Term introduced, along with diabētēs mellītus, by the Scottish physician William Cullen (1710-90) in Synopsis nosologiæ methodicæ, editio tertia, tomus II (Edinburgh, 1780), pp. 244-45.

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of diabetes insipidus was in 1788

Dictionary Entries Near diabetes insipidus

Cite this Entry

“Diabetes insipidus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diabetes%20insipidus. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

diabetes insipidus

noun
diabetes in·​sip·​i·​dus -in-ˈsip-əd-əs How to pronounce diabetes insipidus (audio)
: a disorder that is caused by insufficient secretion of vasopressin by the pituitary gland or by a failure of the kidneys to respond to circulating vasopressin and that is characterized by intense thirst and by the excretion of large amounts of urine
But there is another type of diabetes—known as diabetes insipidus. In this rare disease, the kidneys can't hold on to the water the body needs. The urine is insipid—so diluted it looks, smells and tastes just like water.Lisa Sanders, The New York Times Magazine
see central diabetes insipidus, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus

More from Merriam-Webster on diabetes insipidus

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!