diabetes

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   diabetes mellitus, a group of metabolic disorders marked by persistently high blood glucose because insulin is absent or ineffective

   She manages her diabetes by monitoring her blood glucose and taking insulin.

2. 2
   noun

   diabetes insipidus, a group of disorders causing excessive thirst and urination because vasopressin is deficient or ineffective

   Unlike diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus does not result from high blood glucose.

From Latin diabetes, from Ancient Greek diabetes ("siphon"), based on diabainein ("to pass through"), referring to excessive urination. The qualifier mellitus means "honey-sweet" in Latin.

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