ENGLISH
REFERENCE

diabetic

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌdaɪəˈbɛtɪk// UK //dˌaɪəbˈɛtɪk// di·a·bet·ic

adj. having diabetes, a condition where your body cannot control blood sugar levels properly.

adj. suffering from diabetes mellitus; characterized by elevated blood glucose levels due to insufficient insulin production or action.


SIMPLE

My uncle is diabetic and checks his sugar daily.

CONTEXTUAL

The nurse explained that being diabetic requires careful monitoring of food intake and regular exercise.

COMPLEX

Although often associated with older adults, the rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes means many young adults are now diabetic.

Origin

From diabetes + -ic. Doublet of diabatic.

Usage

Typically used predicatively after a linking verb (e.g. 'is diabetic') or attributively before a noun (e.g. 'diabetic patient').

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