August 11, 2011

Diabetes Insipidus

What is Diabetes Insipidus, and What Are the Symptoms of the Condition?

Diabetes insipidus (DI) causes frequent urination. The large volume of urine is diluted, mostly water. To make up for lost water, you may feel the need to drink large amounts. You are likely to urinate frequently, even at night, which can disrupt sleep or, on occasion, cause bedwetting. Because of the excretion of abnormally large volumes of dilute urine, you may quickly become dehydrated if you do not drink enough water. Children with diabetes insipidus may be irritable or listless and may have fever, vomiting , or diarrhea. In its clinically significant forms, diabetes insipidus is a rare disease.

Diabetes Insipidus versus Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes insipidus should not be confused with diabetes mellitus, which results from insulin deficiency or resistance leading to high blood glucose. Diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus are unrelated, although they can have similar signs and symptoms, like excessive thirst and excessive urination.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is far more common than diabetes insipidus and receives more news coverage. DM has two forms, referred to as type 1 diabetes (formerly called juvenile diabetes, or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or IDDM) and type 2 diabetes (formerly called adult-onset diabetes, or noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or NIDDM). Diabetes insipidus is a different form of illness altogether.

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