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What Is Diabetes Insipidus?

Diabetes insipidus is a medical condition that causes excessive thirst and urination. Although the name is similar, diabetes insipidus is not related to diabetes mellitus. Blood glucose levels are not elevated in diabetes insipidus as they are in type I and type II diabetes mellitus. To differentiate the two conditions, they are sometimes referred to as "sugar diabetes" and "water diabetes."

  1. Types

    • Forms of diabetes insipidus are categorized based on the cause of the disease. Central diabetes insipidus is caused by failure of the pituitary gland to release a hormone called ADH, which prompts the kidneys to concentrate urine. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus occurs when the kidneys do not respond properly to ADH. Gestational diabetes insipidus occurs when the placenta in a pregnant woman produces an enzyme that destroys ADH in the mother. Polydipsic diabetes insipidus is caused by drinking an excessive amount of water, which may be a result of unusual thirst, psychiatric conditions or a belief that drinking a great deal of water offers health benefits.

    Effects

    • There are only two symptoms of diabetes insipidus: extreme thirst and voiding large amounts of urine. A person with diabetes insipidus usually drinks at least a gallon of water each day. Urination is frequent and of large volume; waking multiple times during the night to go to the bathroom is quite common with this condition.

    Identification

    • Diabetes insipidus may be suspected or diagnosed based on a patient's description of symptoms and urinalysis. However, a water deprivation test must be performed to determine which type of diabetes insipidus is present. During this test, blood tests and urinalysis are performed regularly while the patient abstains from drinking liquids of any kind.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Treatment for diabetes insipidus depends on the form of the condition a person has. Central and gestational diabetes insipidus are usually treated with a synthetic hormone that replaces ADH in the body. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is usually treated with a low-salt diet and in some cases, diuretics. Although diuretics promote increased urination in most people, they decrease the volume of urine in some patients with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Polydipsic diabetes insipidus may be treated with patient education, especially if the cause is a mistaken belief that drinking enormous amounts of water is healthy.

    Warning

    • Although diabetes insipidus doesn't usually reduce a person's lifespan or cause serious problems, there is a high risk of dehydration with this condition. It is very important for a person with diabetes insipidus to have plenty of water available to drink, especially if they are not receiving medication to treat the condition. Dehydration in diabetes insipidus can occur within a few hours of not drinking, and can be very dangerous if fluids are not replenished.

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