Diabetes Insipidus (DI)

What is Diabetes Insipidus (DI)?

• diabainein: Greek, “to pass through”
• insipidus: Latin, “having no flavor”
• DI is defined as excess passage of large volumes (> 3 L/day) of dilute urine.

What are the causes of excess urination (increased urine volume)?

1. Diabetes Mellitus or sugar Diabetes,
2. DI – due to deficiency of circulating Anti- Diuretic hormone- ADH,
3. Nephrogenic DI – Due to renal resistance to ADH,
4. Primary polydypsia   polyuria due to excessive drinking,
5. Gestational (pregnancy) DI – enzyme made by the placenta destroys ADH in the mother.

What is the treatment?

Central diabetes insipidus. Because the cause of this form of diabetes insipidus is a lack of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), treatment is usually with a synthetic hormone called desmopressin you can take desmopressin as a nasal spray, as oral tablets or by injection.

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus: Low-salt diet, Drug of choice Hydrochlorothiazide.

Gestational Diabetes insipidus: Treatment is Desmopressin nasal spray.

Primary polydipsia: There is no specific treatment for this form of diabetes insipidus, other than decreasing the amount of fluid intake.