Diabetes Insipidus - Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Definition of Diabetes Insipidus
Diabetes insipidus is a fairly rare condition, with symptoms of always feeling thirsty and at the same time urinating very large amounts. If it is very severe, the sufferer can pass 20 liters of urine a day.
Diabetes insipidus is different from diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is a long-term disease characterized by blood sugar levels above normal. Diabetes insipidus, on the other hand, is not related to blood sugar levels.
Causes of Diabetes Insipidus
The occurrence of diabetes insipidus is due to disturbances in the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) which regulates the amount of fluid in the body. This hormone is produced by the hypothalamus, which is a special network in the brain. This hormone is stored by the pituitary gland after being produced by the hypothalamus.
The pituitary gland will secrete this antidiuretic hormone when the water level in the body is too low. "Antidiuretic" means it is opposite to "diuresis". "Diuresis" means urine production. This antidiuretic hormone helps retain water in the body by reducing the amount of fluid wasted through the kidneys in the form of urine.
What causes diabetes insipidus is reduced production of antidiuretic hormone or when the kidneys no longer respond as usual to antidiuretic hormone. As a result, the kidneys excrete too much fluid and can't produce concentrated urine. People who experience this condition will always feel thirsty and drink more because they try to compensate for the amount of fluid lost.
Diabetes insipidus itself is divided into two main types, namely:
- Cranial diabetes insipidus. Diabetes insipidus of this type is the most common. This is caused by the body not having enough antidiuretic hormone from the hypothalamus. This condition can be caused by damage to the hypothalamus or to the pituitary gland. The damage that occurs can result from infection, surgery, brain injury, or a brain tumor.
- Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. This type of diabetes insipidus occurs when the body has enough antidiuretic hormone to regulate urine production, but the kidneys do not respond to it. This condition may be caused by impaired kidney function or as a hereditary condition. Some medications used to treat mental illness, such as lithium, can also cause this type of diabetes insipidus.
If you experience symptoms of diabetes insipidus, such as always feeling thirsty and urinating more than usual, you should see a doctor immediately. Maybe what you are experiencing is not diabetes insipidus, but it would be better to know the cause.
Adults urinate 4-7 To times a day, while young children urinate up to 10 times a day. This is because children's bladders are smaller. The doctor will perform several tests to find out the exact cause and diagnosis of the condition being experienced.
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Diabetes Insipidus Treatment
In cranial diabetes insipidus, treatment may not be necessary in mild cases. To compensate for the amount of fluid wasted, you need to consume more water. There are drugs that work to mimic the role of an antidiuretic hormone called desmopressin. If it is necessary, you can take this drug.
Whereas in nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, the drug used to treat it is the diuretic thiazide. This drug works to reduce the amount of urine produced by the kidneys.
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Diabetes Insipidus complications
A low amount of water or fluids in the body is called dehydration. This is one of the complications caused by diabetes insipidus. If the dehydration is mild enough, you can take ORS to treat it. But treatment in the hospital will be needed if the dehydration is severe enough.
