diabetic

diabetic — adjective

IPA/ˌdaɪəˈbetɪk/
KK[dˌaɪəbˈɛtɪk]IPA/ˌdaɪəˈbetɪk/
  • diabeticpositive
  • more diabeticcomparative
  • most diabeticsuperlative

1. connected with the disease diabetes, which makes it difficult for the body to co

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

connected with the disease diabetes, which makes it difficult for the body to control the level of sugar in the blood.

Example

The diabetic patient's blood sugar was checked every morning by the nurse.

collocation: diabetic patient

Folake's grandfather attended a diabetic clinic near his home each week, where a nurse checked his feet for nerve damage.

collocation: diabetic clinic

Common collocations
  • diabetic patient
  • diabetic clinic
  • diabetic diet
  • diabetic care
  • diabetic complications
  • diabetic medication
  • diabetic foot
  • diabetic retinopathy
Synonyms
  • diabetes-related

    more explicit but less common in medical writing

  • glycaemic

    technical term referring specifically to blood sugar, used in clinical contexts

Grammar Patterns

diabetic + noun (e.g., patient, clinic, diet)

Usage Note

This sense always appears before a noun (attributive position). Common nouns that follow include 'patient', 'clinic', 'diet', 'care', 'medication', and 'complications'. It describes a connection to the disease, not the person who has it.

Common Mistakes

He was diagnosed with diabetes disease.
He was diagnosed with diabetes.' or 'He was diagnosed with a diabetic condition.
'Diabetes' is the name of the disease; 'diabetic' is the adjective form.

2. describes food or drink made for people who have diabetes, often because it cont

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes food or drink made for people who have diabetes, often because it contains less sugar or uses a sweetener instead of sugar.

Example

The shop on Main Street sells diabetic chocolate made with fruit juice instead of sugar.

collocation: diabetic chocolate

Indra bought a box of diabetic biscuits from the health food store for her aunt's birthday treat.

Common collocations
  • diabetic chocolate
  • diabetic biscuits
  • diabetic jam
  • diabetic desserts
  • diabetic yogurt
  • diabetic sweets
Synonyms
  • sugar-free

    broader term — not all sugar-free products are designed specifically for diabetics

  • low-sugar

    focuses on sugar content rather than suitability for diabetics

Grammar Patterns

diabetic + noun (type of food or drink)

Usage Note

Refers specifically to food and drink products designed for people with diabetes. These products may use sugar substitutes or contain less sugar than regular versions, but they can still raise blood sugar levels and should be consumed with care.

Common Mistakes

I bought some diabetic food for my healthy lunch.
I bought some diabetic food for my aunt who has diabetes.
Diabetic food is specifically made for people with diabetes, not for general health or weight loss.

diabetic — noun

IPA/ˌdaɪ.əˈbet.ɪk/
KK[dˌaɪəbˈɛtɪk]IPA/ˌdaɪ.əˈbet̬.ɪk/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Diabetic' as a noun ('a diabetic') is the most compact form and is widely used in everyday speech, support groups, and patient communities. 'Person with diabetes' (also called people-first language) is increasingly preferred in medical journals, official health guidelines, and by advocacy organizations because it emphasizes the individual rather than the condition. 'Diabetes patient' focuses on the clinical relationship between the person and the healthcare system, making it common in hospital settings. 'Insulin-dependent diabetic' is a more specific subgroup — it refers only to those who need daily insulin injections (typically Type 1 or advanced Type 2), not all people with diabetes. In casual conversation, 'a diabetic' is natural and widely accepted; in a formal medical report, 'a patient with diabetes' is more appropriate.

diabetic (noun)person with diabetesdiabetes patientinsulin-dependent diabetic

Common collocations

Nouns

Prepositions

  • with (e.g., person with diabetes)

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'diabetic' comes from the Greek 'diabētēs' (διαβήτης), meaning 'siphon' or 'passing through', which described the excessive urination seen in people with diabetes. This Greek term passed into medical Latin and then into French ('diabétique') before entering English in the 17th century. The English adjective form 'diabetic' first appeared in medical texts around the 1680s.