What is the origin of word diabetes?

The word "diabetes" comes from the Ancient Greek word διαβήτης (diabētēs), which means "siphon" or "to pass through".

This name was chosen because of the main symptom of diabetes, which is frequent urination. The body is essentially "siphoning" off excess glucose through the urine.

The term "diabetes mellitus" was first used by Aretaeus of Cappadocia in the 2nd century AD. The "mellitus" part comes from the Latin word for "honey" (mel), referring to the sweet taste of the urine in people with diabetes.