rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: dia-
Greek

dia-

through, across; apart

Forms

  • dia-
  • di- — Used before a vowel in some Greek compounds.

Origin

Greek dia, ‘through’; a connection with the Indo-European word for ‘two’ has been proposed but is uncertain.

Note

Passing through something can also divide it, linking traversal with separation.

2 / 23
noun

diabetes

dye-uh-BEE-teez/ˌdaɪəˈbiːtiːz/

A disorder causing high blood sugar because the body cannot produce or use insulin properly.

She checks her blood glucose as part of managing her diabetes.

A woman checks her blood glucose with a finger-stick meter displaying a high reading; an insulin pen and its capped spare needle sit nearby, making diabetes management recognizable rather than showing a generic blood test.
Etymology
diaGreekthrough, across; apart
+betesGreekto go, walk, or step

The “passing through” image described a siphon and then the excessive urination associated with the disease. The name now usually refers to diabetes mellitus, involving abnormal sugar regulation.

In context

Nature Lost 3:27
More sweetness, more disease, diabetes rates tripled worldwide.
Mesquite Tree Secret Revealed: The Forgotten Desert Food That Survived 4,000 Years of Drought

More examples

  • The clinic offers education about diabetes.
  • Researchers studied different forms of diabetes.
  • His doctor discussed the role of insulin in diabetes.

Forms

diabetes