diabetes

noun

di·​a·​be·​tes ˌdī-ə-ˈbē-tēz How to pronounce diabetes (audio) -ˈbē-təs How to pronounce diabetes (audio)
: 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 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 Some of the top 10 major contributors to the loss of healthy years include stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, dementia, and diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage caused by advanced diabetes). Ed Cara / Gizmodo, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 The doctor’s notes say that Jack didn’t have a history of diabetes. Calmatters, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 While vital to people with diabetes, insulin can cause seizures and even death for the average person. Ashleigh Furlong, Fortune Europe, 13 Mar. 2024 This includes people with diabetes, babies, older adults, and people having cancer treatment. Kayla Hui, Verywell Health, 10 Mar. 2024 Instead of paying $400 a month for insulin seniors with diabetes only have to pay $35 a month! USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 Some medical practices in Delaware, North Carolina, and West Virginia billed the inflated code for more than 90% of their Medicare Advantage patients with diabetes, according to the suit. Fred Schulte, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 For example, South Asian people tend to develop diabetes and heart complications at lower BMIs than white people. Elaine Chen Reprints, STAT, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diabetes.' 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of diabetes was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near diabetes

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

diabetes

noun
di·​a·​be·​tes ˌdī-ə-ˈbēt-ēz How to pronounce diabetes (audio) -ˈbēt-əs How to pronounce diabetes (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce diabetes (audio) -ˈbēt-əs How to pronounce diabetes (audio)
plural diabetes
: any of various abnormal conditions characterized by the secretion and excretion of excessive amounts of urine
especially : diabetes mellitus

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