Definition
People who have diabetes, a group of metabolic disorders characterized by high blood sugar levels over prolonged periods.
Etymology
From 'diabetic,' derived from Latin 'diabeticus' and Greek 'diabētikos,' from 'diabetes' meaning 'passing through' (dia- 'through' + bainein 'to go'). Ancient physicians noticed the excessive urination symptom, describing it as liquid passing through the body.
Kelly Says
The ancient Greek naming of diabetes as 'passing through' shows remarkable medical observation - they recognized the key symptom of excessive urination without understanding the underlying metabolic cause. The word literally means 'siphon,' capturing how the condition seemed to make the body unable to retain fluids.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ማር የሚያዝ
mar ye-mi-az
BNবাংলা
ডায়াবেটিক
da-ya-be-tik
CSČeština
cukrovkáři
tsu-krov-ka-ri
DADansk
sukkersygepatient
/ˈsɔɡərˌsyˀɡə.pɑtɪnt/
DEDeutsch
Diabetiker
/di.aˈbeːtɪkər/
ELΕλληνικά
διαβητικοί
di-a-vi-ti-ki
ESEspañol
diabéticos
di-a-be-ti-kos
FISuomi
diabeetikot
di-a-be-ti-kot
FRFrançais
diabétiques
/dja.bɛ.tik/
GUGU
ડાયાબેટિક
da-ya-be-tik
HAHA
masu ciwon sanyi
ma-su chi-won sa-nyi
HEעברית
חולי סוכרת
cho-lee so-ker-t
HIहिन्दी
मधुमेह रोगी
mad-hu-meh ro-gee
HUMagyar
cukorbetegek
tsu-kor-be-te-gek
IDBahasa Indonesia
penderita diabetes
pen-de-ri-ta di-a-be-tes
IGIG
ọrịa shuga ndị
o-ri-a shu-ga n-di
ITItaliano
diabetici
di-a-be-ti-chi
JA日本語
糖尿病患者
tōnyōbyō kanja
KO한국어
당뇨병 환자
dang-nyo-byeong hwan-ja
MRMR
मधुमेही
mad-hu-meh-ee
MSBahasa Melayu
pesakit kencing manis
pe-sa-kit ken-ching ma-nis
MYမြန်မာ
ဆီးချို ရှိသူ
see-cho shi-thu
NLNederlands
suikerziekten
/ˈsœy.kər.zi.ktən/
NONorsk
diabetikere
/di.aˈbeːtɪkərə/
PAPA
ਸ਼ੂਗਰ ਦੇ ਮਰੀਜ਼
shu-gar de ma-reez
PLPolski
cukrzycowi
tsuk-shi-tso-vi
PTPortuguês
diabéticos
di-a-be-ti-kos
RORomână
diabetici
di-a-be-ti-chi
RUРусский
диабетики
di-a-be-ti-ki
SVSvenska
diabetiker
/di.aˈbeːtɪkər/
SWKiswahili
wana kisukari
wa-na ki-su-ka-ri
TAதமிழ்
நீரிழிவு நோயாளிகள்
nee-ri-zhi-vu no-ya-li-kal
TEతెలుగు
మధుమేహం వ్యాధిగ్రస్తులు
ma-dhu-meh-am vya-dhi-gras-tu-lu
THไทย
ผู้ป่วยเบาหวาน
phu-puai baa-waan
TLTL
diyabetiko
di-ya-be-ti-ko
TRTürkçe
diyabetliler
di-ya-be-tli-ler
UKУкраїнська
цукровики
tsu-kro-vi-ki
URاردو
ذیابیطس کے مریض
za-ya-bi-tus ke ma-reez
VITiếng Việt
bệnh nhân tiểu đường
benh nhan tieu duong
YOYO
Àrùnṣọ́kọ̀
a-run-so-ko
ZH中文
糖尿病患者
táng niào bìng huàn zhě
ZUZU
Abanesisihlabathi
a-ba-ne-si-hla-ba-thi
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Medical language has historically used male bodies as the default; diabetes presentation and management differ by gender (gestational diabetes, PCOS complications). 'Diabetics' can erase these differences.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'people with diabetes' or 'those living with diabetes' to center personhood; specify gender when discussing sex-specific complications or epidemiology.
Inclusive Alternatives
["people with diabetes","individuals living with diabetes"]
Empowerment Note
Female endocrinologists and diabetic women activists—including those addressing reproductive complications—have reshaped diabetes research to include gender-specific care protocols.