![DI is caused by less production of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in the body.](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/diabetes-insipidus.jpg?output-quality=75)
Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a rare and complex disease. It is not necessarily life-threatening or shortens a person’s life span. It doesn't cause kidney failure or lead to dialysis. Your kidneys are still able to filter your blood. Even some form of DI (DI in pregnancy) may resolve by itself.
However, DI can be a life-threatening condition if not properly diagnosed and manages some concerns such as described below.
Severe dehydration: Excessive urination may lead to increased chances of dehydration. It can happen at a moment’s notice. You should seek immediate care if you experience symptoms of more severe dehydration or if you notice the following:
A severe loss of body fluids and electrolytes imbalance can be deadlier if left untreated or not properly responded to or managed. Therefore, make sure you always have something to drink close by, especially when it's hot or when you exercise. In severe cases of this disease, it can be almost impossible to completely resolve the extreme thirst and frequent urination. This may hamper your daily life.
It may further lead to other health complications such as neurologic symptoms and brain damage (encephalopathy).
What does diabetes insipidus mean?
Diabetes insipidus (DI) is an uncommon disease that manifests as a frequent urge for urination and extreme thirst. It has nothing to do with blood sugar levels. Although in both diabetes mellitus and insipidus, patients experience a large volume of urine production, the causes in both cases are different.
DI is caused by less production of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in the body. This also named vasopressin. It is produced by your brain that instructs your kidneys to retain water. This hormone helps your kidneys to keep the correct amount of water in the body.
Normal people pass about one to two quarts of urine a day, whereas people with DI may pass 3-20 quarts of urine a day that makes them pee more often, sometimes every 15 minutes.
In DI, too much amount of water is pulled from the blood by the kidneys, which causes the body to create a lot of urine and lead to extreme thirst. Therefore, this condition is also named
What are the symptoms?
Diabetes Insipidus may present with the following symptoms:
- Polydipsia (severe thirst that can’t be satisfied)
- Polyuria (excessive peeing that is colorless)
- Dehydration
- Weight loss
- Failure to grow
- Getting up frequently in the night to pee
- Constipation
- Weak muscles
- Muscle pain
- Irritability
- Bedwetting
![](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/quiz/type-2-diabetes/type-2-diabetes-s1.jpg)
QUESTION
______________ is another term for type 2 diabetes. See AnswerWhat are the different types and causes of diabetes insipidus?
Diabetes Insipidus has the following subtypes depending on the causative factor affecting ADH production:
- Central diabetes insipidus (DI): It mostly occurs due to brain damage because of
- Brain surgery.
- Infection such as tuberculosis.
- Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
- Brain tumor.
- Radiation therapy.
- Blockage in the arteries leading to the brain.
- Autoimmune disease.
- Hereditary disease.
- A head or brain injury.
- Nephrogenic DI: It causes
- Pyelonephritis (kidney disease).
- Hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood).
- Hypercalcemia (high calcium levels in the blood).
- Blockage of the urinary tract due to kidney stones.
- Certain medications such as lithium.
- Dipsogenic DI: If the pituitary (a gland in your brain) doesn’t make enough antidiuretic hormone (ADH) that regulates the thirst mechanism, it may be due to
- Brain surgery.
- Infection.
- Inflammation.
- Tumor.
- Head injury.
- Certain medications used in mental illness such as lithium.
- Gestational DI: This condition usually occurs in pregnancy and may resolve by itself.
How is diabetes insipidus diagnosed?
Your doctor may check your medical history and family health history. The doctor may ask you about your daily fluid intake, diet, and bowel and bladder habits. After your physical examination, your doctor may order for
- Urine sample test to diagnose this condition.
- Blood tests to measure sodium (salt) and other electrolyte levels in the blood.
- Water deprivation test to calculate the amount of urine passed.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain to check the details of brain damage and to look for problems with the pituitary gland (a gland inside the brain).
- Computed tomography (CT) scans.
What are the treatment options?
Treatment of diabetes insipidus (DI) usually depends on the cause of this condition. The following modalities may be tried:
- If you have mild DI, you may only need to increase your water intake.
- A man-made hormone called desmopressin (DDAVP, Minirin, others) may replace the missing antidiuretic hormone (ADH). You can take desmopressin as a nasal spray, oral tablets, or injection.
- Other medications may also be prescribed, such as Indocin and Tivorbex (indomethacin) and chlorpropamide may produce more ADH in the body.
In the nephrogenic DI, your doctor may prescribe a low-salt diet to help reduce the amount of urine your kidneys make. You'll also need to drink enough water to avoid dehydration.
What are the possible complications?
Diabetes Insipidus may present with the following possible complications:
- Mental disturbance
- Hyperactivity
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Poor growth
- Weight loss
- Frequent headaches
- Low blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Restlessness
- Brain damage
- Kidney damage
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetes-insipidus/causes/
https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/what-is-diabetes-insipidus
https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/qa/how-serious-is-diabetes-insipidus
NIH: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/diabetes-insipidus
National Organization for rare disease https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/central-diabetes-insipidus/
Mayocliinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes-insipidus/symptoms-causes/syc-20351269
Cleveland clinical Journal of Medicine http://www.jacobimed.org/public/Ambulatory_files/Educational/Articles/DInsipidus-CCJM.pdf (https://www.ccjm.org/content/73/1/65)
The global diabetes community: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/Diabetes-insipidus.html
Europe PMC https://europepmc.org/article/med/25951703
Top Is Diabetes Insipidus Life-Threatening? Related Articles
bitter melon
Bitter melon, an edible fruit with many phenolic compound, flavonoids, triterpenoids, and insulin-like peptides, has been traditionally used for treating many conditions including diabetes, cancer, fever, and infections. Other uses for bitter melon include diabetes, cancer prevention, gastrointestinal upset, abnormal blood fat levels (dyslipidemia), obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, psoriasis, and others. Do not take bitter melon if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.Eye Problems and Diabetes
Diabetes and eye problems are generally caused by high blood sugar levels over an extended period of time. Types of eye problems in a person with diabetes include glaucoma, cataracts, and retinopathy. Examples of symptoms include blurred vision, headaches, eye aches, pain, halos around lights, loss of vision, watering eyes. Treatment for eye problems in people with diabetes depend on the type of eye problem. Prevention of eye problems include reducing blood pressure, cholesterol levels, quitting smoking, and maintaining proper blood glucose levels.Diabetes Quiz
Take the Diabetes Quiz and learn the causes, signs, symptoms, and types of this growing epidemic. What does diabetes have to do with obesity and diet? Learn about life as a diabetic.Diabetes Diet Plans
Discover the best and worst meals for diabetes-savvy dining. See how to avoid carbs and control your blood sugar with healthier meal combinations that retain all the foods and flavors you love.Tips for Managing Type 1 and 2 Diabetes at Home
Managing your diabetes is a full time commitment. The goal of diabetic therapy is to control blood glucose levels and prevent the complications of diabetes. Information about exercise, diet, and medication will help you manage your diabetes better. Blood glucose reagent strips, blood glucose meters, urine glucose tests, tests for urinary ketones, continuous glucose sensors, and Hemoglobin A1C testing information will enable you to mange your diabetes at home successfully.What Is the Difference Between Diabetes Insipidus and Diabetes Mellitus?
Diabetes affects the way your body turns food into energy. Diabetes insipidus causes thirst due to dehydration from constant urination while diabetes mellitus causes thirst due to high glucose levels in the blood.fenugreek
Fenugreek is an aromatic herb (Trigonella foenum-graecum) that has been traditionally taken as a supplement for many health benefits such as increasing milk production in lactating women, and reducing blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It may also be used for treating diabetes (type 1 and type 2), constipation, wounds and boils, inflammation, thickening of arteries (atherosclerosis), and more. Common side effects of fenugreek include indigestion, diarrhea, gas (flatulence), nausea, headache, dizziness, abnormal urine odor, abnormal body odor, low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia), allergic reaction, asthma, wheezing, and loss of consciousness.insulin regular human
Regular human insulin is a biological product used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Human insulin is a natural hormone secreted by the pancreas. Common side effects of insulin regular human include hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, injection site reactions, generalized rash, drop in blood pressure, shortness of breath, wheezing, fast pulse, sweating, peripheral edema, and weight gain. Overdose can cause hypoglycemia and hypokalemia. Insulin is the preferred treatment for type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in pregnancy, as well as gestational diabetes mellitus. Consult your doctor if breastfeeding.Jardiance (empagliflozin)
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a prescription drug used to manage blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes. Jardiance belongs to a drug class called SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter) inhibitors. Common side effects include upper respiratory tract infection, increased cholesterol, joint pain, nausea, increased creatinine, increased urination. Jardiance is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.L-methylfolate/pyridoxal 5-phosphate/methylcobalamin
L-methylfolate/pyridoxal 5-phosphate/methylcobalamin is a combination of three vitamins of the B group, and is used to treat peripheral diabetic neuropathy. Common side effects include allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, headaches, drowsiness (somnolence), temporary widespread skin rash (exanthema), itching, swelling(edema), and excessive red blood cells (polycythemia vera), and others. Use with caution if potential benefits outweigh potential fetal risks in pregnant women and women who are nursing infants.What Is Microsporidiosis?
Microsporidiosis is an infection caused by the microsporidia parasite. The disease is uncommon in people with normal immune systems. Symptoms in people with immune deficiency include diarrhea, malabsorption, gallbladder disease, cough, labored breathing, urinary tract infection, bowel perforation and keratoconjunctivitis. Microsporidiosis treatment depends on the site of infection and the species of microsporidia involved.Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is an injectable prescription medication used to treat the symptoms of type 2 diabetes and improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes. Mounjaro has a potential risk of thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Mounjaro is not used to treat type 1 diabetes. Mounjaro may cause serious side effects including hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face/lips/tongue/throat, dizziness, fast heart rate, shaking, anxiety, hunger, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), clay-colored stools, and bloating of the abdomen. Consult your doctor if pregnant or breastfeeding.Prediabetes
Prediabetes is a situation where a person's blood sugar levels are higher than they should be, but aren't high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. There are no signs or symptoms of prediabetes. Some of the risk factors for prediabetes are
- high blood pressure,
- high cholesterol,
- heart disease,
- smoking,
- family history,
- poor diet, and
- lack of activity.
Diet changes along with other healthy lifestyle changes are important in treating prediabetes.
What Is the Relationship Between Diabetes and Kidney Disease?
Diabetic kidney disease is caused by multiple factors, including changes in the kidneys caused by diabetes and hypertension-related vascular changes. Having high blood sugar levels can lead to kidney damage and failure. People with diabetes may already have hypertension when they are diagnosed. Because high blood pressure damages the kidneys, it increases the risk of diabetic kidney disease.taurine
Taurine is a dietary supplement used in the treatment of many conditions including cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, and type 2 diabetes. Taurine is also used as a component of energy drinks, infant formula, and health foods. There are no reported side effects for taurine. Avoid taurine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.Type 1 Diabetes Quiz
What are the causes of type 1 diabetes? Take this quiz and challenge your knowledge of causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatments for this common condition, formerly known as juvenile diabetes.Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that may be reversible with diet and lifestyle changes. Symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, fatigue, and an unusual odor to your urine. Most people don't know they have type 2 diabetes until they have a routine blood test. Treatment options include medications, a type 2 diabetes diet, and other lifestyle changes.What Are the Early Signs of Diabetes?
The early signs of diabetes depend on if one has type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children, whereas type 2 diabetes is prevalent in adults.