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Causes of Diabetes Insipidus

Diabetes insipidus is a chronic medical condition that causes you to need to drink and urinate more frequently than what is normal, resulting in poor sleep and a decrease in the quality of your life. The causes of diabetes insipidus include hormone disorders, certain types of injuries and heredity. Consider this information from the National Library of Medicine and the American Academy of Family Physicians about the causes of diabetes insipidus.

  1. Brain Tumors

    • Both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors in your brain may cause you to develop diabetes insipidus.

    Head Injuries

    • If you receive a head injury as a result of an auto accident, fall or assault, diabetes insipidus may result from inflammation of your brain.

    Hormone Deficiency

    • If your brain does not produce enough anti-diuretic hormone, you may develop diabetes insipidus as a result of an imbalance of water in your blood.

    Infections

    • Infections, such as encephalitis or meningitis, may cause diabetes insipidus. These are usually the result of damage to the pituitary and hypothalamus glands in the brain.

    Kidney Disease

    • Kidney diseases and structural defects in your kidneys may cause them to no longer properly respond to anti-diuretic hormones, resulting in diabetes insipidus.

    Medications

    • Taking anti-psychotic drugs such as lithium, or antibiotics such as tetracycline, may cause diabetes insipidus, as a result of damage to your kidneys.

    Pregnancy

    • Diabetes insipidus, that only affects you while you are pregnant, may result from fetal enzymes that destroy the anti-diuretic hormone you produce.

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