rhizoverbBeta
DictionarydiabetesHigh blood sugar disorder
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
+betesGreekto go, walk

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