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What Is Polyphagia?

Polyphagia

Say: pah-lee-FAY-zhuh

Someone with uncontrolled diabetes might feel really hungry and eat a lot. Polyphagia is the medical word for eating very large amounts of food. A person may feel extremely hungry because sugar is passing out of their body in pee instead of being used for energy. The person will eat a lot to make up for the lost calories.

A KidsHealth Education Partner Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

Images sourced by The Nemours Foundation and Getty Images.