Diabetes Insipidus is not diabetes mellitus. But it resembles diabetes mellitus in the way of two main symptoms. Those are:

1. Frequent urination

2. Constant thirst.

The frequent urination is so intense that it will happen at night even with bedwetting. The urine with this disorder is not concentrated but watery-like, as though you've poured water into it. So therefore it is very light in appearance. We all have for example, specific gravity of our urine. In persons that have DI, the specific gravity is abnormal and on the low side.

What causes diabetes insipidus is not even close to what causes diabetes mellitus in either type 1 or type 2. What actually causes DI is related to your pituitary gland in the brain. There is an imbalance in that major gland that causes an overproduction of water and thirst. This hormone is called vasopressin. Vasopressin hormone is supposed to trigger a response to the kidney to make the proper concentrations of urine as well as playing the role of making the right amounts of urine. When the vasopressin hormone is depleted or abnormally low in the pituitary gland, the onset of diabetes insipidus is what happens.

Now, let's take a look at what types there are of DI since there is four types altogether.

The first type of DI is called Pituitary Diabetes Insipidus. There is the shortage of vasopressin hormone in this type. The pituitary glad has either had damage or destruction for this type of DI to occur. This type is the more common. This is often treated with various types of vasopressin uptake drugs.

The second type is Gestational Diabetes Insipidus. Since pregnancy often causes an upset in various types of hormones, this will sometimes occur in pregnant women. It is often treated by prescribing medications that help the vasopressin hormones work better.

Another type of diabetes insipidus is referred to in medical terms as nephrogenic (relating to kidneys), DI. This type of diabetes insipidus is connected with or to various kidney diseases. It cannot be treated with vasopressin drugs but by other methods that will help the person's symptoms with this type of diabetes insipidus. Treating the underlying kidney issue may help in this form.

The fourth type of diabetes insipidus is Dipsogenic Diabetes Insipidus. This is brought on by the excessive thirst and as a result of the thirst, drinking excessive fluids. The section of the brain that takes control over your thirstiness is out of balance in this type of DI. There are often brain diseases which are connected with Dipsogenic Diabetes Insipidus.

Diagnosing diabetes insipidus is not hard for the most part since the symptoms are very prominent. Doctors will do testing naturally though, with an MRI to determine the state of the pituitary gland and blood tests which can give measurements of vasopressin hormones.

Overall, treating this problem involves giving the proper drugs to stimulate vasopressin hormones, with the exception of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus which primarily involves treating symptoms and underlying causes found.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Kirkman.
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