Diabetes insipidus (patient information)
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What is Diabetes insipidus
Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a rare disease that causes frequent urination. The large volume of urine is diluted, mostly water. To make up for lost water, a person with DI may feel the need to drink large amounts and is likely to urinate frequently, even at night, which can disrupt sleep and, on occasion, cause bedwetting. Because of the excretion of abnormally large volumes of dilute urine, people with DI may quickly become dehydrated if they do not drink enough water. Children with DI may be irritable or listless and may have fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. Milder forms of DI can be managed by drinking enough water, usually between 2 and 2.5 liters a day. DI severe enough to endanger a person’s health is rare.
What are the Symptoms of Diabetes insipidus?
- Excessive thirst and intake of fluids
- Excessive urination
- Bed-wetting
- Waking up in the middle of the night to urinate[1]
How " " Is Spread and Who is at Risk for " "?
How to know you have Diabetes insipidus (Diagnosis)
Because DM is more common and because DM and DI have similar symptoms, a health care provider may suspect that a patient with DI has DM. But testing should make the diagnosis clear.
A doctor must determine which type of DI is involved before proper treatment can begin. Diagnosis is based on a series of tests, including urinalysis and a fluid deprivation test.
- Urinalysis: is the physical and chemical examination of urine. The urine of a person with DI will be less concentrated. Therefore, the salt and waste concentrations are low and the amount of water excreted is high. A physician evaluates the concentration of urine by measuring how many particles are in a kilogram of water or by comparing the weight of the urine with an equal volume of distilled water.
- Fluid deprivation test: helps determine whether DI is caused by one of the following:
- excessive intake of fluid
- a defect in ADH production
- a defect in the kidneys’ response to ADH
This test measures changes in body weight, urine output, and urine composition when fluids are withheld. Sometimes measuring blood levels of ADH during this test is also necessary.
In some patients, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain may be necessary as well.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Care
Treatment Options
Diseases With Similar Symptoms
Where to find Medical Care for Diabetes Insipidus
Directions to Hospitals Treating Diabetes insipidus