Diabetes insipidus

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Definition Symptoms Causes Risk factors When to seek medical advice

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Definition

When you hear the term "diabetes insipidus," you may immediately assume the condition is related to what's commonly known as "sugar" diabetes, or type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. While the disorders share a name and have some common signs, in actuality diabetes mellitus (type 1 and type 2) and diabetes insipidus are unrelated.

Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a disorder characterized by intense thirst and by the excretion of large amounts of urine (polyuria). In most cases, it's the result of your body not properly producing, storing or releasing a hormone that increases water absorption by your kidneys and decreases urine flow. This form of diabetes insipidus is often called central diabetes insipidus, or sometimes neurogenic diabetes insipidus.

Diabetes insipidus can also occur when your kidneys are unable to properly respond to the hormone — a condition referred to as nephrogenic insipidus. Still rarer forms can occur during pregnancy (gestational diabetes insipidus).

Treatment depends on which type of diabetes insipidus you have.

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Symptoms