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any of several disorders characterized by increased urine production.
also called diabetes mellitus
[mel-i-tuh s, muh-lahy-] /ˈmɛl ɪ təs, məˈlaɪ-/ (show ipa). a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism, usually occurring in genetically predisposed individuals, characterized by inadequate production or utilization of insulin and resulting in excessive amounts of glucose in the blood and urine, excessive thirst, weight loss, and in some cases progressive destruction of small blood vessels leading to such complications as infections and gangrene of the limbs or blindness.
also called type 1 diabetes, insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes. a severe form of diabetes mellitus in which insulin production by the beta cells of the pancreas is impaired, usually resulting in dependence on externally administered insulin, the onset of the disease typically occurring before the age of 25.
also called type 2 diabetes, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, adult-onset diabetes, maturity-onset diabetes. a mild, sometimes asymptomatic form of diabetes mellitus characterized by diminished tissue sensitivity to insulin and sometimes by impaired beta cell function, exacerbated by obesity and often treatable by diet and exercise.
also called diabetes insipidus
[in-sip-i-duh s] /ɪnˈsɪp ɪ dəs/ (show ipa). increased urine production caused by inadequate secretion of vasopressin by the pituary gland.
contemporary examples

they are much more likely to have metabolic syndrome—a condition that puts you at high risk for diabetes and heart disease.
the heart -ssociation’s junk science diet dr. barbara h. roberts may 21, 2014

some were elderly with underlying conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
did this flu vaccine kill 13? barbie latza nadeau december 1, 2014

“and like diabetes, it can be mild or severe,” the psychiatrist notes.
is pedro hernandez, the suspect in the etan patz case, mentally ill? michael daly june 11, 2012

their app, colorimetrix, is accurate enough to monitor conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, and urinary tract infections.
new camera-centric smartphone app puts healthcare in your pocket mihir patkar march 27, 2014

“everyone” wants people with cancer and diabetes and so forth to have coverage.
a really depressing number michael tomasky june 7, 2012

historical examples

the presence of grape sugar or glucose indicates the disease known as diabetes.
a practical physiology albert f. blaisdell

persistent furunculosis is not infrequent in diabetes mellitus.
essentials of diseases of the skin henry weightman stelwagon

this disease occurs in two forms—diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus.
a newly discovered system of electrical medication daniel clark

he undertook an affair for me, and i gave him advice; he was in the last stage of diabetes.
conscience, complete hector malot

all cases of cataract in diabetes are not, however, necessarily true diabetic cataracts in the above sense.
encyclopaedia britannica, 11th edition, volume 10, slice 1 various

noun
any of various disorders, esp diabetes mellitus, characterized by excretion of an abnormally large amount of urine
n.

1560s, from medical latin diabetes, from late greek diabetes “excessive discharge of urine” (so named by aretaeus the cappadocian, physician of alexandria, 2c.), literally “a p-sser-through, siphon,” from diabainein “to p-ss through,” from dia- “through” (see dia-) + bainein “to go” (see come).

an old common native name for it was p-ssing evil. in cl-ssical greek, diabainein meant “to stand or walk with the legs apart,” and diabetes meant “a drafting comp-ss,” from the position of the legs.

diabetes di·a·be·tes (dī’ə-bē’tĭs, -tēz)
n.
any of several metabolic disorders marked by excessive discharge of urine and persistent thirst, especially one of the two types of diabetes mellitus.