|  | Conditions Treatments | Diabetes

Types of Diabetes Insipidus

There are four main types of Diabetes Insipidus (DI) and they all cause the patient to be extremely thirsty and to urinate excessively. There are two causes for this condition---not having enough antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in your system and having kidneys that do not work well with this hormone (arginine vassopressin or AVP). Most people who suffer from this condition get it after head trauma---either an injury or brain surgery.

  1. Diabetes Insipidus Versus Diabetes Mellitus

    • Diabetes Insipidus is not as common as Diabetes Mellitus and even though both conditions include "diabetes" in their names, they are quite different. Type 1 (juvenile) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus are both a result of the body not having enough insulin. Diabetes Insipidus is caused by the diuretic hormone arginine vasopressin not being made or processed properly.

    Neurogenic Diabetes Insipidus

    • This type of DI occurs when the pituitary gland does not secrete arginine vasopressin (AVP), also known as an antidiuretic hormone (ADH), or when the hypothalamus is incapable of making the hormone. It is also known as central, hypothalamic, or pituitary DI depending on the cause of the vasopressin deficiency. A water deprivation test is used to diagnose this condition. You may also undergo an MRI to check your pituitary gland. After injury is ruled out, treatment is usually a synthetic hormone. Males and females can have this condition.

    Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus

    • When the kidneys are ADH-resistant, they don't acknowledge the presence of the hormone AVP. The kidneys reabsorb what liquid it can and the remainder becomes urine. As in Neurogenic DI, if you are suddenly thirsty all the time (polydipsia) or are urinating excessively (polyuria), you should report to your doctor for a water deprivation test. A low sodium diet is recommended for sufferers. This type may be inherited, especially by males.

    Gestagenic Diabetes Insipidus

    • Gestagenic DI is also caused by a arginine vasopressin deficiency, however, it only occurs during pregnancy. Although it only affects women and resolves by itself four to six weeks after the baby is born, it is not the same as gestational diabetes (mellitus) which is caused by lack of insulin. Gestagenic occurs when the pituitary is damaged or pregnancy destroys the AVP. If you are affected, it's important to note that Gestagenic DI appears in subsequent pregnancies as well.

    Dipsogenic Diabetes Insipidus

    • Dipsogenic DI is caused by abnormal thirst and excessive consumption of liquid (primary polydipsia). It's thought that this is caused by a misfire in the part of the brain that controls thirst. Because of all the liquids vasopression is suppressed and despite urination the sense of being thirsty is not satiated. This can lead to water intoxication, and, if not treated, can be fatal.

Diabetes - Related Articles