What it means
دیابت (diyâbet) means diabetes, the chronic metabolic condition in which the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar. The word comes from the Greek “diabetes” (meaning “to pass through”), which entered Persian through European medical Latin, not through Arabic. In everyday Persian speech and in medical contexts alike, دیابت is the standard term. A common related phrase you will hear is دیابت نوع یک (diyâbet-e no’-e yek) for Type 1 and دیابت نوع دو (diyâbet-e no’-e do) for Type 2.
How to use it
- پدرم دیابت داره. (Pedaram diyâbet dâre.) “My father has diabetes.”
- دکتر گفت باید قند خونم رو کنترل کنم. (Doktor goft bâyad qand-e khunam ro kontrol konam.) “The doctor said I need to control my blood sugar.”
- دیابت نوع دو با رژیم غذایی قابل کنترله. (Diyâbet-e no’-e do bâ rezhim-e ghazâyi qâbel-e kontrol-e.) “Type 2 diabetes can be controlled with diet.”
- خانوادهام سابقهی دیابت دارن. (Khânevâde-am sâbeqe-ye diyâbet dâran.) “My family has a history of diabetes.”
Cultural note
Diabetes is one of the most widespread chronic diseases in Iran, with prevalence rates among adults consistently above the regional average according to Iranian health ministry data. The term دیابت is universally understood in both clinical and colloquial settings. Many Iranians are familiar with the condition through family members, and home blood-sugar monitors (دستگاه قندخون, dastgâh-e qand-e khun) are common household items.