Diabetes

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ËŒdaɪəˈbiːtiːz/, /ËŒdaɪəˈbiːtɪs/

Origin

From the Ancient Greek διαβαίνω (diabainō, "to pass through"), via the participle διαβήτης (diabētēs, "passing through"). This refers to the excessive amounts of urine produced by sufferers.

Full definition of diabetes

Noun

1. A group of metabolic diseases whereby a person (or other animal) has high blood sugar due to an inability to produce, or inability to metabolize, sufficient quantities of the hormone insulin.
2. Diabetes insipidus, a condition characterized by excessive thirst and excretion of large amounts of severely diluted urine.

Synonyms

• (group of metabolic diseases) diabetes mellitus, DM, diabeetus humorous

Derived terms

• diabesity
• diabetes mellitus
• diabetes insipidus

Related terms

• diabetic

Hyponyms

• (group of metabolic diseases) IDDM, juvenile diabetes, NIDDM

Anagrams

• beadiest