Definition

1. Noun:
   • A chronic medical condition: "diabetes" refers to a group of metabolic diseases characterized by the body's inability to properly produce or use insulin, leading to high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
   • A disorder marked by specific symptoms: The condition is typically marked by symptoms such as excessive thirst (polydipsia), frequent urination (polyuria), and persistent hunger.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Managing diabetes requires careful monitoring of blood sugar levels.
  • Type 2 diabetes is often associated with lifestyle factors.
  • She was diagnosed with diabetes at a young age.

Advanced Usage

• "to have diabetes": to be afflicted with the disease.
  • He has had diabetes for over a decade and manages it with insulin.
• "to develop diabetes": to begin to suffer from the condition.
  • Individuals with a family history are more likely to develop diabetes.
• "to control/manage diabetes": to take actions to regulate the condition.
  • A balanced diet and regular exercise are crucial to managing diabetes.

Variants and Related Words

• Diabetic (adj): Relating to or suffering from diabetes.
  • Diabetic patients need regular check-ups.
• Diabetic (n): A person who has diabetes.
  • Diabetics must be mindful of their carbohydrate intake.
• Prediabetes (n): A condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough for a diabetes diagnosis.
  • Prediabetes is a warning sign that type 2 diabetes might develop.

Synonyms

• Diabetes mellitus: The full medical term for the common forms of the disease.
• Sugar disease: An informal, non-medical term.

Related Phrases

• "borderline diabetes": An informal term often used to describe prediabetes.
  • His doctor said he has borderline diabetes and needs to change his diet.
• "juvenile diabetes": An older term for what is now commonly called Type 1 diabetes, which often begins in childhood or adolescence.
  • Juvenile diabetes requires lifelong insulin therapy.

Related Idioms

(Note: There are few common idioms directly using the word "diabetes" due to its specific medical nature. It is typically used in literal, clinical, or informational contexts.)

Noun

1. a polygenic disease characterized by abnormally high glucose levels in the blood; any of several metabolic disorders marked by excessive urination and persistent thirst