diabetes \di`a*be"tes\, n. [NL., from Gr. ?, fr. ? to pass
         or
   cross over. See Diabase.] (Med.)
   Any of
         several diseases which is attended with a persistent,
  
         excessive discharge of urine; when used without
  
         qualification, the term usually refers to {diabetes
  
         mellitus}. The most common form is diabetes
         mellitus, in

           which the urine is not only increased in quantity, but
  
         contains saccharine matter, and the condition if untreated
         is
   generally fatal.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: The
         two major subtypes recognized are

   diabetes
         insipidus
         and

   diabetes
         mellitus. In diabetes insipidus there
         is
      excretion of large amounts of urine of relatively
         low
      density, accompanied by extreme thirst, but the
         urine
      contains no abnormal constituent. The more
         serious form
      diabetes mellitus (from Latin
         mellitus, sweetened with
      honey) is a metabolic
         disease in which the utilization of
      carbohydrate is
         reduced and that of lipids and proteins is
      increased.
         This form is caused by a deficiency in insulin
      (which
         is mostly formed in the pancreas), and may be
     
         accompanied by glucosuria, hyperglycemia, elecrolyte loss,

              ketoacidosis, and sometimes coma. It has severe
         long-term
      effects, including damage to the nerves,
         the retina, and
      the kidney, and degeneration of blood
         vessels which may
      lead to poor circulation,
         especially in the limbs,
      subsequent infection, and
         eventual loss of limbs.
      Diabetes mellitus itself has
         recognized variants, being
      divided into
         insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and
     
         non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
    
         
         Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is also called
    
          adult-onset
         diabetes (abbreviated NIDDM), and is the
   
           less severe form of diabetes mellitus, occurring mostly
         in
      obese individuals over the age of 35. It may be
         treated by
      diet and oral hypoglycemic agents, though
         occasionally
      serious degenerative effects may
         develop.
      Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
         (abbreviated IDDM),
      also called type I diabetes, is
         a severe form of the
      disease, usually starting when
         the affected person is
      young (hence also called
         juvenile-onset diabetes). In
      addition
         to the
         increased urine (polyuria) common to all
      forms of
         diabetes, this form is characterized by low
      levels of
         insulin in the blood, ketoacidosis, increased
     
         appetite, and increased fluid intake, and may lead to
     
         weight loss and eventually the severe degenerative effects

              mentioned above. Treatment requires administration of

              insulin and careful regulation of the diet. --Stedman

              [PJC]

   Diabetes mellitus [NL., sweet diabetes],
         that form of
      diabetes in which the urine contains
         saccharine matter.

   Diabetes insipidus [NL., lit.,
         diabetes], the form of
      diabetes in which the urine
         contains no abnormal
      constituent. Diabetic