How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
#0How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/18/06 at 4:04amEven on commercials I hear it 2 different ways. Is there proper way to pronounce it, or is it just a preference thing?
#1re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/18/06 at 4:16amI say die-a-bee-tees but I hear it pronounced die-a-bee-tis. I'm curious to know which is right too.
#2re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/18/06 at 4:18amI've heard tis on a lot of commercials lately, and then I heard tes on another commercial tonight. So I have no idea what is right now.
#4re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/18/06 at 9:52amThis will sound discriminatory, but I feel like die-ah-bee-tis is the "old person" way to pronounce it. I don't think I've ever heard anyone in real life say it that was under retirement age.
#5re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/18/06 at 10:23am
I've only ever heard re:
Die-a-bee-tees
I can understand the other though, as one who has the disease is a
die-a-bet-ic
so I can see how one could say die-abee-tis, but have never heard it
iflitifloat
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/03
#6re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/18/06 at 12:05pm
According to the dictionary, either pronounciation is correct. As a nurse, in my hospital environment, "diabetees" has been what the professionals say. I think ~ff~ nailed it when she commented that the "diabetis" form is favored among the oldsters.
But technically, no one can be faulted for either variation.
#7re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/18/06 at 12:07pm
If you watch those Liberty Medical commercials with the old Southern Guy, the way he says diabetes is wrong, funny but wrong. But that's how most southern pronounce it.
slimandslam
Broadway Star Joined: 9/26/05
#8re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/18/06 at 1:45pm
Of course, the way it's spelled, you could pronounce it dya-BAITS.
Say it that way next time, and then vehemently insist it's the correct pronunciation. Throw a childish fit if anyone disagrees.
#9re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/18/06 at 3:39pm
"This will sound discriminatory, but I feel like die-ah-bee-tis is the "old person" way to pronounce it. I don't think I've ever heard anyone in real life say it that was under retirement age."
That's very true, though. My little brother is diabetic and my family pronounces it die-ah-bee-tees, but when my grandfather asks how my brother is doing, he says die-a-beet-is. Which I think is odd.
grizzabella
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/05
#10re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/18/06 at 3:51pmsadium, you're right. As one of the board's old people, I can attest that just about everybody said "dia-beet-is" when I first heard about the disease in the early '60's. The pronouciation has changed or evolved over the years. Now most people (including me) was "dia-beet-ees."
#11re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/18/06 at 4:41pmThis is so strange. I was just talking to someone about this the other day. I feel pronouncing it 'dia-beet-is' makes it sound dirty. Especially when that old man in the commercial says it. As a person with Diabetes....I pronounce it with the 'dia-beet-ees'. Like I said, the other way just sounds dirty to me.
#12re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/18/06 at 4:41pm
Oh, Wilford Brimley. You should've known better than to do those commercials. Now you're just the "old southern guy."
(eta -- he's from Utah, BTW)
Updated On: 3/18/06 at 04:41 PM
#13re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/18/06 at 4:43pm
I'm all for "dia-beet-ees." My father says it the other way, and while I know it's not wrong, it drives me crazy. I do love those commercials with the old guy, though, who rides on horses and talks about how he paid for his "dia-beet-is" equipment.
That was completely useless, I'm sorry.
sassypanz
Broadway Star Joined: 1/20/05
#14re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/18/06 at 7:08pm
di·a·be·tes ( P ) Pronunciation Key (d-bts, -tz)
n.
Any of several metabolic disorders marked by excessive discharge of urine and persistent thirst, especially one of the two types of diabetes mellitus.
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[Middle English diabete, from Medieval Latin diabts, from Latin, from Greek, siphon, diabetes, from diabainein, to cross over, straddle : dia-, dia- + bainein, to go; see gw- in Indo-European Roots.]
Word History: Diabetes is named for one of its distressing symptoms. The disease was known to the Greeks as diabts, a word derived from the verb diabainein, made up of the prefix dia-, “across, apart,” and the word bainein, “to walk, stand.” The verb diabeinein meant “to stride, walk, or stand with legs asunder” hence, its derivative diabts meant “one that straddles,” or specifically “a compass, siphon.” The sense “siphon” gave rise to the use of diabts as the name for a disease involving the discharge of excessive amounts of urine. Diabetes is first recorded in English, in the form diabete, in a medical text written around 1425.
#15re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/18/06 at 9:00pmMy dad has diabetes. I say dia-be-tees, but my mom says dia-be-tis, which drives me insane, even though it's technically not wrong. It just sounds so low class! And the rest of my family pronounces in the way I do.
Yawper
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/13/04
Frank2
Swing Joined: 3/11/06
#17re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/19/06 at 12:43amI pronounce it "stop eating sugar and get some damned exercise."
#18re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/19/06 at 2:57am
Frank2- you need to educate yourself. There are two types of diabetes- Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is entirely hereditary and is not caused by weight, diet, or lack of exercise in any way. On the other hand Type 2 is influenced by things like the above mentioned (including genetics and high blood pressure, etc). Please don't make rude generalizations and assumptions about people's lifestyles who have this disease. It's very unbecoming and upsetting to people who have loved ones who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
sabrelady
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#19re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/20/06 at 5:15pmInterestingly a lot of elderly people don't use the word @ all they simply say "I've got sugar in my blood" or even more simple "sugar". Iflit is of course correct most health care professionals do say "die a bee tees" prob greek derivation and refers to exsessive urination ( mellitus refers to the sweetness or sugar spilled in the urine) And this end our health care lesson for today!
#20re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/20/06 at 5:34pm
If you watch those Liberty Medical commercials with the old Southern Guy, the way he says diabetes is wrong, funny but wrong. But that's how most southern pronounce it.
His name is Wilford Brimley and he is from Utah. Last time I checked, Utah wasn't in the South. And, no, most Southern people don't pronounce it that way. It has more to with the fact that that was the preferred pronunciation about 50 years ago.
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#21re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/20/06 at 5:44pm
Don't forget pregnancy diabetes, sadie. 
#22re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/20/06 at 5:47pmGestational Diabetes is very scary.
#23re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/20/06 at 5:49pm
All I ever needed to know about Diabetes, I learned from the Baby-Sitter's Club.
And the fact that my BFF in college has diabetes, as well as an annoying habit of jabbing herself with her insulin pen in the middle of the cafeteria.
"Shut up! It's been 29 years!!!" --the incomparable Patti LuPone in her MUCH DESERVED Tony acceptance speech for Gypsy.
Kitzy's Avatar du Jour: Kitzy as Little Red Ridinghood in her college's production of "Into the Woods"
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#24re: How Do You Pronounce Diabetes?
Posted: 3/20/06 at 5:53pm
I never read that.
Nope.
And Claudia totally wasn't my favorite.
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