What Are the Four Types of Diabetes Insipidus?

Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a disease that affects the process of storing fluid during times of dehydration and producing urine. All four types of the disease center around the anti-diuretic hormone vasopressin that signals the kidneys to stop urine production in response to dehydration.

Considerations

• Although the causes and treatments vary, the main symptoms of DI are excessive urination and thirst. DI is unrelated to diabetes mellitus, which centers around problems with the hormone insulin.

Central DI

• Central DI occurs when the pituitary gland becomes damaged by a head injury, surgery or tumor, making it unable to produce vasopressin. The synthetic form of vasopressin, desmopressin, treats the condition.

Nephrogenic DI

• The cause of nephrogenic DI is a defect with the kidneys due to kidney diseases, tricyclic antidepressants or the drug lithium. The condition makes the kidneys insensitive to vasopressin, and doctors often use the drug hydrochlorothiazide to decrease the production of urine.

Dipsogenic DI

• A damaged hypothalamus causes dipsogenic DI and creates a constant thirst in patients. There is no effective medicinal treatment for dipsogenic DI, so patients manage the condition by eating a low-sodium diet and limiting water intake.

Gestational DI

• Gestational DI is a temporary disease in pregnant women, where enzymes secreted by the placenta destroy vasopressin. Doctors prescribe desmopressin to alleviate the condition in most cases.