Diabetes Insipidus – Causes And Treatment
November 24, 2009
Diabetes insipidus is a health condition in which the sufferer experiences extreme thirst and excess urination. Although, this disease shares its name with diabetes mellitus or type 1 and type 2 diabetes, diabetes insipidus is not characterized by elevated blood sugar level. Inadequate production, storage or circulation of the anti diuretic hormone is usually responsible for this condition. Diabetes insipidus can also develop if the kidney fails to respond to this hormone.
Causes of diabetes insipidus
The anti-diuretic hormone or vasopressin regulates our urination. This hormone is manufactured in the hypothalamus and stored in the pituitary gland. From the pituitary gland, the anti-diuretic hormone is released in the bloodstream. This hormone helps to regulate the amount of fluid to be excreted and the amount of water to be reabsorbed in the body.
There are three types of diabetes insipidus – central diabetes insipidus, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and gestational diabetes insipidus. If for some reason the body fails to produce, store or release the anti-diuretic hormone in the bloodstream, central diabetes insipidus develops. Brain surgery that damages the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland, diseases such as meningitis, brain tumor, head injury or inflammation could disrupt the flow of anti-diuretic hormone in the bloodstream, causing central diabetes insipidus. A defect in the kidney tubules that reduces the kidney’s response to the anti-diuretic hormone causes nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is usually a genetic condition. In certain cases, chronic kidney diseases or certain medications can trigger this condition. Gestational diabetes insipidus is a rare condition. During pregnancy, an enzyme secreted by the placenta destroys the mother’s anti-diuretic hormone, causing diabetes insipidus. Gestational diabetes insipidus is a reversible condition, which usually cures naturally after delivery.
Diabetes insipidus remedies
Diabetes insipidus could be treated with medications. The medications contain synthetic hormone that reduces urination. To reduce the volume of urination, the kidney makes less urine. People on central diabetes insipidus medication should drink water only when they are thirsty. The drug used for treating central diabetes insipidus does not work for patients suffering from nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. A low salt diet that helps to reduce urine formation is recommended for the nephrogenic diabetes insipidus patients.
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