Diabetes, technically, refers to the production of excessive urine. Hence the two major diseases called diabetes, diabetes mellitus (sugary diabetes) and diabe

Diabetes, technically, refers to the production of excessive urine. Hence the two major diseases called diabetes, diabetes mellitus (sugary diabetes) and diabetes insipidus (tasteless diabetes, an unrelated disease). Generally, people are only talking about diabetes mellitus, of which there are several etiologies. While some conditions are on the spectrum of insulin resistance (metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome), you wouldn't call it diabetes unless the urine contains glucose.