What is diabetes insipidus?
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Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:Diabetes insipidus, not to be confused with the more common diabetes mellitus, is a relatively rare disorder resulting from a failure to produce sufficient amounts of vasopressin, otherwise known as antidiuretic hormone or ADH. Vasopressin, secreted by the posterior pituitary gland in the brain, helps your kidneys reabsorb water to maintain proper fluid balance. If the pituitary gland fails to produce enough ADH, water is not conserved properly. Instead, it is passed through the kidneys and excreted, typically in very large amounts.
More rarely, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus can occur. This is where the kidneys fail to respond properly to ADH.
The primary health risk associated with both diabetes insipidus and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is dehydration. Other symptoms may include:
Frequent and excessive urination. Output may be as high as 25 to 35 quarts within 24 hours and may be as frequent as every 30 minutes, even at night.
Extreme thirst
Dry skin
Constipation
Emergency symptoms of dehydration, including dizziness, weakness, and loss of consciousness.
Diabetes insipidus affects both sexes equally. With proper treatment, the overall prognosis is a positive one.
Diabetes insipidus, not to be confused with the more common diabetes mellitus, is a relatively rare disorder resulting from a failure to produce sufficient amounts of vasopressin, otherwise known as antidiuretic hormone or ADH. Vasopressin, secreted... More -
American Diabetes Association answered:Diabetes insipidus is a condition characterized by frequent and heavy urination, excessive thirst, and an overall feeling of weakness. This condition may be caused by a defect in the pituitary gland or in the kidney. In diabetes insipidus, blood glucose levels are normal.Diabetes insipidus is a condition characterized by frequent and heavy urination, excessive thirst, and an overall feeling of weakness. This condition may be caused by a defect in the pituitary gland or in the kidney. In diabetes insipidus,... More
