Diabetes Insipidus

Question 1

What is Diabetes Insipidus?

Answer 1

This is a condition where you pee a lot and feel more thirsty, caused by a lack of vasopressin (AVP)

Question 2

What are the two main symptoms of Diabetes Insipidus?

Answer 2

Polydipsia - excessive thirst
Polyuria - Increase in urination

Question 3

What are the two types of Diabetes Insipidus?

Answer 3

Pituitary (cranial) diabetes insipidus, where there is aninsufficiency of antidiuretic hormone (ADH).

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus where
the kidneys fail to respond adequately to ADH.

Question 4

What is ADH?

Answer 4

It is also known as vasopressin.

It regulates the amount of fluid in the body, it is
produced in the hypothalamus and then passes to the pituitary gland where it is stored until needed.

ADH is released from the pituitary gland when the amount of water in the body is too low and helps
retain water in the body by reducing the amount of water excreted through the kidneys.

This results in the production of more concentrated urine.

Question 5

What are the causes of diabetes insipidus?

Answer 5

Idiopathic, familial or vascular.
It can be caused as a result of tumours, infections,
infiltrations or inflammation.

Question 6

How can diabetes insipidus be diagnosed?

Answer 6

By assessing symptoms.
And doing investigations such as:
- Urinalysis
- Fluid deprivation test
- Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) test
- MRI scan