Living With Diabetes Insipidus

Diabetes insipidus is a condition that causes symptoms such as excessive thirst and urination. It is the result of the body's inability to process an important hormone and can sometimes develop during pregnancy. Although there is no cure, there are effective treatments to control its side effects.

Causes

• Excess fluids are normally removed from the bloodstream by the kidneys and stored in the bladder. When there is a deficit of water in your system, the kidneys normally store less liquid in the bladder in an effort to preserve fluids and prevent dehydration. This system maintains a balance of water within the body.

  The amount of fluid that the kidneys will process is partially directed by the hormone ADH. ADH is stored in the pituitary gland and is only released into the bloodstream when needed. ADH then triggers the kidneys to take water back into the bloodstream instead of releasing it into the bladder.

  Diabetes insipidus is the outcome of a disruption of this system. The particular way that the system is disrupted determines the form of the disease. Diabetes insipidus takes three forms: central, nephrogenic and gestational.

  Central diabetes insipidus occurs when there is damage to the pituitary gland. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is the result of a defect of the kidneys tubules, which results in unresponsiveness to the hormone ADH. Gestational diabetes insipidus develops only during pregnancy when the placenta produces an enzyme that destroys the ADH in the mother’s body.

Complications

• Diabetes insipidus can lead to dehydration, which causes a number of unpleasant side effects. Among these are dry mouth, low blood pressure, fever, headache, weight loss and rapid heartbeat. Another complication of diabetes insipidus is an electrolyte imbalance that can lead to a host of symptoms such as fatigue and muscle pain.

Treatments

• Treatment of diabetes insipidus will depend on the form that it takes. Diabetes insipidus most often involves the replacement of ADH with the synthetic hormone desmopressin. This can be administered through a nasal spray, injection or tablets and is frequently the safest treatment for this type of diabetes.

  It is important, however, to only drink fluids when one is thirsty during this treatment as the kidneys are less responsive to fluid changes within the body. Mild cases of central diabetes insipidus may only require an increased intake of fluids. Desmopressin can also be used in the case of gestational diabetes insipidus, but it is not always effective.

  Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus will not respond to desmopressin and a low sodium diet is often the most successful form of treatment. Hydrochlorothiazide, typically used to increase urination, will sometimes reverse the effect in those suffering from this form of diabetes insipidus and may be used alone or in conjunction with other medications.