Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus (dy-uh-BEE-teez MEL-ih-tus)
A disease in which the body does not control the amount of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood and the kidneys make a large amount of urine. This disease occurs when the body does not make enough insulin or does not use it the way it should.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.