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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffYour doctor will perform a number of tests to diagnose diabetes insipidus, since the signs and symptoms can be caused by a number of conditions, such as diabetes mellitus. If the diagnosis of diabetes insipidus is made, your doctor will need to determine which type of diabetes insipidus you have, because the treatment is different for each form of the disease.
Some of the tests that doctors commonly use to determine the type of diabetes insipidus and in some cases, its cause, include:
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Water deprivation test. This test helps determine the cause of diabetes insipidus. You'll be asked to stop drinking fluids two to three hours before the test so that your doctor can measure changes in your body weight, urine output and urine composition when fluids are withheld. In some cases your doctor may also measure blood levels of ADH during this test.
The water deprivation test is performed under close supervision in children and in pregnant women to make sure no more than 5 percent of body weight is lost during the test.
- Urinalysis. Urinalysis is the physical and chemical examination of urine. If your urine is less concentrated (meaning the amount of water excreted is high and the salt and waste concentrations are low), it could be due to diabetes insipidus.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. An MRI of the head is a noninvasive procedure that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to construct detailed pictures of brain tissues. Your doctor may want to perform an MRI to look for abnormalities in or near the pituitary gland.
Family history
If your doctor suspects an inherited form of diabetes insipidus, he or she will look at your family history of polyuria and may suggest genetic screening.
