Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
DIABETES in Spanish: DIABETES
Diabetes · noun · dee-ah-BEH-tehs
Diabetes is spelled identically in English and Spanish, though the pronunciation shifts to the Spanish phonetic pattern with four syllables: dee-ah-BEH-tehs. As a feminine noun in Spanish (la diabetes), it requires feminine articles and adjective agreements. In everyday Latin American conversation, you may also hear the colloquial expression tener azúcar (literally to have sugar) as an informal way of saying someone has diabetes.
dee-ah-BEH-tehs
Mi tío controla su diabetes con dieta y ejercicio.
My uncle manages his diabetes with diet and exercise.
Diabetes in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for diabetes, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| diabetes | diabetes | dee-ah-BEH-tehs | Default, widely understood |
| diabetes mellitus | diabetes | full medical term | |
| azúcar | diabetes | colloquial, tener azúcar = to have diabetes |
How Native Speakers Use Diabetes
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Doctor visit
El análisis de sangre confirmó que tiene diabetes tipo 2.
The blood test confirmed that she has type 2 diabetes.
A medical diagnosis scenario.
Colloquial usage
Mi abuelita tiene azúcar y debe cuidar lo que come.
My grandma has diabetes and needs to watch what she eats.
Uses the colloquial tener azúcar for diabetes.
Health education
La diabetes puede prevenirse con hábitos de vida saludables.
Diabetes can be prevented with healthy lifestyle habits.
A health awareness message about prevention.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Diabetes
Wrong gender article
Incorrect: El diabetes es una enfermedad crónica.
Correct: La diabetes es una enfermedad crónica.
Diabetes is a feminine noun in Spanish, requiring the feminine article la, even though it ends in -s rather than the typical feminine -a ending.
Pluralizing diabetes
Incorrect: Hay muchos tipos de diabeteses.
Correct: Hay muchos tipos de diabetes.
Diabetes is invariable in number, meaning it stays the same in both singular and plural, so no -es ending should be added.
Lock in Diabetes Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Diabetes used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using diabetes in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Mi tío controla su diabetes con dieta y ejercicio. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Diabetes in Spanish
- Is diabetes masculine or feminine in Spanish?
- Diabetes is feminine in Spanish, so it takes la as its definite article, and any adjectives modifying it must agree in feminine form, as in la diabetes gestacional.
- What does 'tener azúcar' mean?
- Tener azúcar, literally to have sugar, is a widespread colloquial euphemism for having diabetes, commonly heard in informal conversations across Latin America and among older generations.
- How do I say 'diabetic' in Spanish?
- The adjective and noun form is diabético (masculine) or diabética (feminine), as in Él es diabético meaning He is diabetic.