Is There a Cure for Diabetes Insipidus?

Mention the word "diabetes" and most people think of the disease in which the body does not produce enough insulin. Diabetes insipidus, however, is of no relation to diabetes mellitus, the disease concerning insulin and blood sugar. Diabetes insipidus is a disorder in which the kidneys are unable to conserve water. If left untreated, the main complication is dehydration.

Causes

• Diabetes insipidus, or DI, results when the body doesn't produce or respond to a chemical called antidiuretic hormone, also known as ADH. This hormone is produced in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus and is stored and released from a small gland at the base of the brain called the pituitary gland.

Types

• Diabetes insipidus has two types--central and nephrogenic. The central type is a lack of ADH production, caused by damage to the pituitary gland or hypothalamus as a result of a head injury or infection. The nephrogenic type is a defect in the parts of the kidneys that respond to ADH, caused by certain medications, kidney disease or high levels of calcium in the body.

Symptoms

• The primary symptoms of DI are extreme thirst and excessive volumes of urine. You need ADH to balance the amount of water in your urine and blood, and without the proper balance, your kidneys can excrete too much water. Because of this, you feel thirsty and increase your fluid intake to stay hydrated. Other symptoms include unusually frequent nighttime bathroom trips and possible bed-wetting.

Diagnosis

• To diagnose DI, your doctor will perform a blood and urine test to measure the amount of water present. He or she also may perform a water deprivation test. In this test, you'll be asked to refrain from drinking anything for two or three hours so your doctor can measure the changes in your body weight and the composition of your urine. You also may undergo an MRI or CAT scan to check for potential problems in the brain.

Treatments

• Treatment of DI depends upon the underlying cause and what type you have. In some cases, such as when the DI is caused by medications, normal kidney function should resume when the medication is stopped. Milder cases of central DI may need only an increase in fluid consumption. Medication may help in the case of low ADH production.