Diabetes insipidus
Diabetes insipidus (DI) is an uncommon condition in which the kidneys are unable to prevent the excretion of water.
DI is not the same as diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2. However, untreated, both DI and diabetes mellitus cause constant thirst and frequent urination. People with diabetes mellitus have high blood sugar (glucose). Those with DI have normal blood sugar levels, but their kidneys are not able to balance fluid and salt in the body.
Diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2
Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleCauses
During the day, your kidneys filter all your blood many times. Normally, most of the water is reabsorbed, and only a small amount of concentrated urine, relative to the volume of blood, is excreted. DI occurs when your kidneys cannot concentrate the urine normally, and a large amount of dilute urine is excreted.
The amount of water excreted in the urine is controlled by antidiuretic hormone (ADH). ADH is also called vasopressin. ADH is produced in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. It is then stored and released from the pituitary gland. This is a small gland just below the base of the brain.
DI caused by a lack of ADH is called central diabetes insipidus. When DI is caused by a failure of the kidneys to respond to ADH, the condition is called nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Nephrogenic means related to the kidney.
Central diabetes insipidus
Central diabetes insipidus is a rare condition that involves extreme thirst and excessive urination.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleNephrogenic diabetes insipidus
Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is a disorder in which a defect in the small tubes (tubules) in the kidneys causes a person to pass a large amou...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleCentral DI is rare. It can be caused by damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland as a result of:
- Genetic problems
- Head injury (common cause)
- Infection in the brain
- Problem with the ADH-producing cells due to an autoimmune disease
Autoimmune disease
An autoimmune disorder occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake. There are more than 80 autoimmune d...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Loss of blood supply to the pituitary gland
- Surgery in the area of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus (most common cause)
-
Tumors in or near the pituitary gland
Tumors
A pituitary tumor is an abnormal growth in the pituitary gland. The pituitary is a small gland at the base of the brain. It regulates the body's ba...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article
Nephrogenic DI involves a defect in the kidneys. As a result, the kidneys do not respond to ADH. Nephrogenic DI is very rare. Nephrogenic DI may be caused by:
- Certain medicines, such as lithium
- Genetic problems
- High level of calcium in the body (hypercalcemia)
Hypercalcemia
Hypercalcemia means you have too much calcium in your blood.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Kidney disease, such as polycystic kidney disease
Polycystic kidney disease
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a kidney disorder passed down through families. In this disease, many cysts form in the kidneys, causing them to ...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article
Symptoms
Symptoms of DI include:
-
Excessive thirst that may be intense or uncontrollable, usually with the need to drink large amounts of water or craving for ice water
Excessive thirst
Excessive thirst is an abnormal feeling of always needing to drink fluids.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article -
Excessive urine volume
Excessive urine volume
Excessive amount of urination means that your body makes larger than normal amounts of urine each day.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Excessive urination, often needing to urinate every hour throughout the day and night
- Very dilute, pale urine
Exams and Tests
Your health care provider will ask about your medical history and symptoms.
Tests that may be ordered include:
-
Blood sodium and osmolality
Blood sodium
The sodium blood test measures the concentration of sodium in the blood. Sodium can also be measured using a urine test.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleOsmolality
Osmolality blood test is a test that measures the concentration of all chemical particles found in the fluid part of blood. Osmolality in the urine c...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Desmopressin (DDAVP) challenge
-
MRI of the head
MRI of the head
A head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Serum co-peptin level
-
Urinalysis
Urinalysis
Urinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article -
Urine concentration and osmolality
Urine concentration
A urine concentration test measures the ability of the kidneys to conserve or excrete water.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Urine output
Your provider may have you see a doctor who specializes in pituitary diseases to help diagnose DI.
Treatment
The cause of the underlying condition will be treated when possible.
Central DI may be controlled with vasopressin (desmopressin, DDAVP). You may take vasopressin as an injection, a nasal spray, or tablets.
If nephrogenic DI is caused by a medicine, stopping the medicine may help restore normal kidney function. But after many years of use of some medicines, such as lithium, nephrogenic DI can be permanent.
Hereditary nephrogenic DI and lithium-induced nephrogenic DI are treated by drinking enough fluids to match urine output. Medicines that lower urine output also need to be taken.
Nephrogenic DI is treated with anti-inflammatory medicines and diuretics (water pills).
Outlook (Prognosis)
The outcome depends on the underlying disorder. If treated, DI does not cause severe problems or result in early death.
Possible Complications
If your body's thirst control is normal and you are able to drink enough fluids, there are no significant effects on body fluid or salt balance.
Not drinking enough fluids can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which can be very dangerous.
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleElectrolyte
Electrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleIf DI is treated with vasopressin and your body's thirst control is not normal, drinking more fluids than your body needs can also cause a dangerous electrolyte imbalance.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider if you develop symptoms of DI.
If you have DI, contact your provider if frequent urination or extreme thirst returns after treatment.
References
Thompson CJ, Garrah A. Disorders of sodium, diabetes insipidus and hyponatremia. In: Robertson RP, ed. DeGroot's Endocrinology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 12.
Verbalis JG. Disorders of water balance. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 15.
-
Endocrine glands - illustration
Endocrine glands release hormones (chemical messengers) into the bloodstream to be transported to various organs and tissues throughout the body. For instance, the pancreas secretes insulin, which allows the body to regulate levels of sugar in the blood. The thyroid gets instructions from the pituitary to secrete hormones which determine the rate of metabolism in the body (the more hormone in the bloodstream, the faster the chemical activity; the less hormone, the slower the activity).
Endocrine glands
illustration
-
Osmolality test - illustration
An osmolality urine test is performed to measure the concentration of particles in urine. Greater than normal results may indicate conditions such as Addison disease, congestive heart failure or shock. Lower-than-normal measurements may indicate aldosteronism, diabetes insipidus, excess fluid intake, renal tubular necrosis or severe pyelonephritis.
Osmolality test
illustration
-
Endocrine glands - illustration
Endocrine glands release hormones (chemical messengers) into the bloodstream to be transported to various organs and tissues throughout the body. For instance, the pancreas secretes insulin, which allows the body to regulate levels of sugar in the blood. The thyroid gets instructions from the pituitary to secrete hormones which determine the rate of metabolism in the body (the more hormone in the bloodstream, the faster the chemical activity; the less hormone, the slower the activity).
Endocrine glands
illustration
-
Osmolality test - illustration
An osmolality urine test is performed to measure the concentration of particles in urine. Greater than normal results may indicate conditions such as Addison disease, congestive heart failure or shock. Lower-than-normal measurements may indicate aldosteronism, diabetes insipidus, excess fluid intake, renal tubular necrosis or severe pyelonephritis.
Osmolality test
illustration
Review Date: 5/12/2023
Reviewed By: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.