Diabetes insipidus

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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Diabetes insipidus (die-uh-BEE-teze in-SIP-uh-dus) is an uncommon disorder characterized by intense thirst and 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 key hormone, but diabetes insipidus (DI) can also occur when your kidneys are unable to respond properly to that hormone. Rarely, diabetes insipidus can occur during pregnancy (gestational diabetes insipidus).

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

Treatments are available to relieve your thirst and normalize your urine output.

References
  1. What is diabetes insipidus? Diabetes Insipidus Foundation. http://www.diabetesinsipidus.org. Accessed June 18, 2010.
  2. Diabetes insipidus. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/insipidus. Accessed June 18, 2020.
  3. Bichet DG. Diagnosis of polyuria and diabetes insipidus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 15, 2010.
  4. Bichet DG. Treatment of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 15, 2010.
  5. Rose BD, et al. Treatment of central diabetes insipidus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 15, 2010.
DS00799 Sept. 2, 2010

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