Diabetes insipidus (DI) is an uncommon condition in which the body is unable to effectively retain water. It can cause people to be very thirsty and pass large amounts of urine.
Although diabetes insipidus has some of the same symptoms as diabetes mellitus (which includes type 1 and type 2 diabetes), it is a quite separate and unrelated condition.
The brain regulates the concentration of your blood by controlling the amount of fluid that you take in through drinking and eating, and the amount of fluid you pass through urine.
A region of the brain called the hypothalamus can sense when blood is too concentrated and, in response, triggers the release of a hormone called vasopressin (also known as antidiuretic hormone), which is stored in the pituitary gland.
When vasopressin is released into the bloodstream by the pituitary gland, it acts on the kidneys, causing them to retain water and reduce the amount of fluid that is excreted via urine. When the concentration of the blood drops too low, the hypothalamus reduces its stimulation of vasopressin release. This causes the kidneys to excrete more fluid.
Diabetes insipidus results from a deficiency in the levels or action of vasopressin.
A substance that suppresses the production and excretion of urine.
The flow of blood within the blood vessels of the circulatory system.
A chemical substance secreted in one part of an organism and transported to another part of that organism, where it has a specific effect.
A small part of the brain that carries out many functions, in particular the communication between the nervous system and the endocrine system (via the pituitary gland).
A chemical released by the brain that helps control the body's salt concentrations and fluid levels. Also known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
There are three main types of diabetes insipidus: central DI, nephrogenic DI and gestational DI.
In central DI, an abnormality in the brain causes too little vasopressin to be produced.
Causes include:
In some cases, no underlying cause can be identified.
In nephrogenic DI, the kidneys no longer respond to vasopressin, even though normal levels are still produced by the brain.
Causes include:
In some cases, no underlying cause can be identified.
Central diabetes insipidus affects the production of vasopressin, while nephrogenic diabetes insipidus affects its regulation.
Gestational DI can occur in the last trimester of pregnancy and in the period just after birth.
Causes include:
In some cases, no underlying cause can be identified, but it usually resolves 4-6 weeks after birth.
Gestational DI may run in some families. Once it has occurred in one pregnancy, it may occur again in later pregnancies.
An abnormal dilatation in the wall of a blood vessel. This occurs when there is a weakness in the vessel wall. Aneurysms can be fatal if they rupture.
The flow of blood within the blood vessels of the circulatory system.
A chemical element, important for many biological functions. Particularly central to maintaining bone and tooth health.
Inflammation of the brain, usually caused by a viral infection.
A chemical substance secreted in one part of an organism and transported to another part of that organism, where it has a specific effect.
A pair of organs responsible primarily for regulating the water balance in the body and filtering the blood.
A metal element that is used in medications that treat psychiatric illnesses.
The organ that forms within the uterus of a pregnant woman to provide the fetus with nourishment from the blood supply of the mother.
A treatment that uses ionizing radiation to kill or control growth of malignant cancer cells.
A condition in which acid accumulates in the body due to inadequate kidney function.
A hereditary form of anemia in which a defective form of hemoglobin cause red blood cells to be an abnormal crescent shape. This causes the cells to break down prematurely, which can then lead to anemia.
One third of a period of time. Often used to describe the three stages of pregnancy, in which each trimester is about three months long.
A rare, inherited condition that causes diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, vision loss and a range of other serious health problems.
A water-soluble compound and major mineral that is essential for maintaining contractions of muscles, including the heart.
A chemical released by the brain that helps control the body's salt concentrations and fluid levels. Also known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
Gradual failure of kidney function over a period of months or years.
The main features of DI are:
The amount of urine passed will vary, but in severe cases can be up to 42 pints (20 liters) a day.
Because of the need to urinate frequently, people with DI will often wake frequently during the night in order to go to the toilet, or experience bedwetting.
Other symptoms can include:
In babies with DI, symptoms can include:
A state of exhaustion and weakness.
When diagnosing DI, it is important for the doctor to rule out other medical conditions that may be causing the symptoms and to determine the underlying cause.
Your doctor will perform a physical examination, ask questions about your symptoms and order some tests. Tests include:
Analysis of the urine can determine its concentration. If the concentration is low, it can indicate DI.
Blood may be taken to measure the concentration of the blood and the amount of glucose (in order to check for diabetes mellitus).
A fluid or water deprivation test is generally done in hospital, so your health can be closely monitored while it occurs. During the test, no water or other fluids are taken for a number of hours. During this time, you will be monitored for:
If fluid control is normal, during the test you will tend to produce less urine and it will become more concentrated.
However when you have DI, urine of low concentration will continue to be produced in large amounts. This means that during this test, you will tend to become dehydrated and your blood concentration will rise.
During this test, levels of vasopressin may be monitored. If it appears as though DI is causing symptoms, a dose of artificial vasopressin may be given to help determine whether the DI is central or nephrogenic. In central DI, artificial vasopressin will tend to increase the concentration of urine, while in nephrogenic DI it does not tend have an effect.
Because DI is often caused by brain problems or injury, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan can help to identify such an underlying cause of the condition.
A magnetic resonance imaging scan can identify an injury as an underlying cause of diabetes insipidus.
If it is suspected that the cause of DI is inherited, genetic screening may be recommended.
A simple sugar found in many foods (such as fruit) that functions as a major energy source for the body.
A type of imaging that uses a magnetic field and low-energy radio waves, instead of X-rays, to obtain images of organs.
A chemical released by the brain that helps control the body's salt concentrations and fluid levels. Also known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
Treatment depends on the type and severity of DI. In mild cases, drinking enough fluids to cover the increased production of urine may be all that is required. This may mean being careful to ensure that you always have access to plenty of drinking water.
Eating a low-salt diet, which can help to reduce the amount of urine you produce, may be recommended and you may need to be particularly careful to drink enough fluids in warm weather or when exercising.
You may be recommended to wear a medic-alert bracelet, so that health care providers can be easily alerted to your condition if you become ill.
For children with DI, parents and carers may need to monitor their condition and their fluid intake and urine output, particularly with young children who are less able to regulate their fluid intake or describe symptoms. Discussing the child's condition and care needs with their school is important, including that they may require extra toilet breaks.
Regular drinking of fluids is one of the treatments of mild diabetes insipidus.
Underlying conditions that cause central DI, such as brain infections or tumors, may require treatment. In some cases, such as with some brain injuries, the symptoms may gradually get better on their own.
DI can be managed by supplementing the inadequate amount of vasopressin that the brain is producing with an artificial version of vasopressin called desmopressin. This may be taken in a variety of ways including injection, nasal spray, wafers and tablets.
Underlying conditions that can cause nephrogenic DI, such as hypercalcaemia, may require treatment. It may also be recommended that you stop taking any medications that may be contributing to the condition. However, it is important not to stop taking medications except under your doctor's supervision, because this may cause other side effects or health problems to get worse.
Mild cases of gestational DI may not require any treatment, although closer monitoring may be required to make sure that fluid levels in the body stay within safe levels.
In some cases, desmopressin may be prescribed to help reduce urine production.
A chemical released by the brain that helps control the body's salt concentrations and fluid levels. Also known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
If severe DI is untreated, it can lead to chronic dehydration. While it is rare when water is available, severe dehydration caused by DI can lead to kidney and brain damage, and eventually to the failure of the heart and circulatory system and death.
It is important to take the correct dose of desmopressin, as taking too much can cause the body to retain too much fluid and have reduced levels of sodium in the blood. This can cause symptoms such as confusion, nausea, weakness and lethargy. Untreated, severe cases can lead to seizures and death.
The heart and the blood vessels of the body, responsible for moving blood through the body.
The state of insufficient hydration; excessive loss of water; requiring more water in order to function normally.
A pair of organs responsible primarily for regulating the water balance in the body and filtering the blood.
A sensation of sickness and unease, typically felt in the stomach, often accompanied by the urge to vomit. Nausea is a common symptom with many possible causes.
Prognosis depends on the underlying cause of DI. In some cases, such as following brain surgery or injury, DI may get better over time. Gestational DI usually goes away around 4-6 weeks after birth.
When it persists, DI can generally be managed well with appropriate treatment, although ongoing monitoring by a specialist is often necessary.
It is generally not possible to prevent diabetes insipidus.