Diabetes Insipidus
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Diabetes Insipidus
Diabetes Insipidus is not the same disorder as diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Insipidus has some of the same symptoms as Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. It shares the symptoms of increased urination and thirst. The symptom of increased urine occurs because the urine concentration is not normal. The urine of someone with diabetes Insipidus appears to pale and colorless. Due to the colorless urine, diabetes isipidus is sometimes referred to as water diabetes.
Diabetes Insipidus is classified into 4 different types: Pituitary Diabetes Insipidus, Gestational Diabetes Insipidus, Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus, and Primary Polydipsia.
Pituitary Diabetes Insipidus
Pituitary Diabetes Insipidus is the most common type of diabetes isipidus. This type is caused by a lack of a hormone called vasopressin. Vasopressin's purpose is to cause the kidney to increase the urine concentration, which should reduce urine output. The cause of the Pituitary diabetes isipidus is undiagnosed over half the time. Unfortunately, Pituitary Insipidus is usually permanent. The good news is there are medicines that are able to eradicate the symptoms.
Gestagenic or Gestational Diabetes Insipidus
This is the second type of diabetes isipidus. This type of diabetes Insipidus occurs during pregnancy. If the pituitary is damaged at all during pregnancy, this can lead to a lack of vasopressin. Also, the placenta can occasionally destroy the vasopressin hormone too quickly leading to the condition as well. Gestational Diabetes Insipidus can be treated with medicine and often subsides within 4 to 6 weeks post delivery.
Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus
This is the third type of Diabetes Insipidus. Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus is caused by an inability of the kidneys to respond to the antidiuretic effect of normal amounts of vasopressin. This type of Diabetes Insipidus can be caused by genetic defects or adverse events from certain drugs. This type of Diabetes Insipidus is usually not curable with drugs or the elimination of the disease that caused it.
Primary Polydipsia
This type of Diabetes Insipidus is caused by an abnormality in the part of the brain that regulates thirst. When this abnormality occurs, vasopressin is suppressed by excessive fluid intake. This type of diabetes isipidus cannot be treated completely with medicines. Some of the symptoms can be relieved, however there is no way to alter the occurrence of excessive thirst.