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What Is Water Diabetes?

Water diabetes, also known as diabetes insipidus (DI), causes excessive and frequent urination, insatiable thirst and increased fluid intake. The urine is colorless or very pale because of an abnormality in its concentration.

  1. Central Diabetes Insipidus

    • Central DI is caused by damage to the pituitary gland from a head injury, neurosurgery or a genetic disorder that causes the pituitary gland to interfere with the typical storage and release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH).

    Treatment for Central DI

    • Desmopression, a synthetic hormone that prevents water excretion, is used to treat central DI. It causes the kidneys to produce less urine, so patients should only drink when thirsty to prevent water buildup.

    Nephrogenic DI and Treatment

    • Nephrogenic DI occurs when the kidneys are unable to respond properly to antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Causes are drugs, kidney disease or inherited genetic defects. Removing the drug or treating the disease is the best hope for treating nephrogenic DI. Sometimes relieving the symptoms is the most that can be done.

    Dispogenic DI and Treatment

    • Dispogenic DI is caused by damage to the area of the hypothalamus that regulates the thirst mechanism. An effective treatment has not yet been found for dispogenic DI.

    Gestational DI and Treatment

    • Occurring only during pregnancy, gestational DI occurs if the mother's ADH is destroyed by an enzyme made by the placenta or if the pituitary gland is damaged. Desmopression is used to treat most cases of gestational DI.

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