Diabetes Insipidus – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Diabetes insipidus is a rare disorder that disrupts the body’s fluid balance, causing excessive urination and intense thirst. This condition has two alternative medical names: arginine vasopressin deficiency and arginine vasopressin resistance.
Despite its name, diabetes insipidus is completely different from diabetes mellitus (commonly known as diabetes). The similarity in names can be confusing, but these are separate medical conditions.
While diabetes mellitus affects blood sugar levels, diabetes insipidus involves fluid regulation problems.
Currently, there is no cure for diabetes insipidus. However, several treatment options can effectively manage symptoms, including:
- Reducing excessive thirst
- Decreasing urine production
- Preventing dehydration
Treatment helps patients maintain a more normal fluid balance and improves quality of life. With proper medical care, most people with diabetes insipidus can control their symptoms and avoid serious complications.
Signs and Symptoms
Diabetes insipidus causes several noticeable symptoms.
Adults often feel extremely thirsty and prefer cold water. They also make large amounts of clear, pale urine. Many need to wake up during the night to urinate and drink water.
While most adults normally pass 1 to 3 quarts of urine daily, someone with diabetes insipidus may produce up to 20 quarts per day when drinking enough fluids.
Children with this condition show different signs:
- Very wet, heavy diapers
- Bed-wetting
- Strong thirst for water and cold drinks
- Weight loss
- Slow growth
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Fever
- Constipation
- Headaches
- Sleep problems
- Vision issues
When to Get Medical Help
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you notice you’re urinating much more than usual and feel extremely thirsty regularly. These symptoms need prompt medical attention to prevent possible complications and receive proper treatment.
Causes
Diabetes insipidus occurs when the body fails to maintain proper fluid balance. This condition stems from problems with either the production or function of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also called vasopressin.
ADH plays a key role in fluid regulation. This hormone is made in the hypothalamus of the brain and stored in the pituitary gland.
When working properly, ADH helps the kidneys return filtered fluid to the bloodstream rather than releasing it as urine.
There are four main types of diabetes insipidus, each with different causes:
Central diabetes insipidus results from damage to the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, affecting ADH production, storage, or release. This damage may come from:
- Surgery
- Brain tumors
- Head injuries
- Illness
- Inherited disorders
- Autoimmune reactions that attack ADH-producing cells
Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus occurs when kidneys cannot respond properly to ADH, even though the hormone is present. This may happen due to:
| Common Causes | Additional Factors |
|---|---|
| Inherited kidney disorders | Blocked urinary tract |
| Certain medications (especially lithium) | Urinary tract infections |
| Low potassium levels in blood | Chronic kidney conditions |
| High calcium levels in blood | Antiviral medications like foscarnet |
Gestational diabetes insipidus is a rare form that only affects pregnant women. It develops when an enzyme produced by the placenta destroys ADH in the mother’s body.
Primary polydipsia (also called dipsogenic diabetes insipidus) causes people to feel extremely thirsty and drink large amounts of fluids. This may result from:
- Damage to the thirst-regulating mechanism in the hypothalamus
- Mental health conditions like schizophrenia
In some cases, doctors cannot identify a clear cause of diabetes insipidus initially. Ongoing testing may eventually reveal the underlying reason for the condition. The fluid imbalance in diabetes insipidus leads to increased urine production.
When the body cannot properly regulate fluid levels—either because not enough ADH is made or because the kidneys don’t respond to it—the kidneys fail to reabsorb water back into the bloodstream. Instead, they release large amounts of dilute urine.
Risk Factors
Some people face higher chances of getting diabetes insipidus. These include:
- People with family members who have had this condition
- Individuals taking water pills (diuretics) that might affect kidney function
- Those with blood imbalances like high calcium or low potassium levels
- People who have suffered serious head injuries
- Those who have undergone brain surgery
Your medical history and current medications can play important roles in determining your risk level.
Health Problems
Lack of Water in the Body
Diabetes insipidus can cause your body to lose too much water. This lack of water leads to several problems.
You may have a dry mouth and feel very thirsty. Many people feel extremely tired or dizzy. Some might even faint.
These signs should not be ignored. Feeling lightheaded or nauseous often means your body needs water right away.
Mineral Balance Issues
When you have diabetes insipidus, the levels of important minerals in your blood can change. These minerals, called electrolytes, include sodium and potassium.
Signs of mineral imbalance include:
- Feeling weak
- Nausea or throwing up
- Not wanting to eat
- Feeling confused
Your body needs these minerals to work properly. When they get out of balance, it can make you feel sick.
