Diabetes Insipidus Is Characterized By Decreased Secretion Of Antidiuretic Hormone.

Due to a combination of environmental and hereditary causes, a metabolism disorder can occur in our body which is termed diabetes. Abnormally high levels of sugar are found in the blood during this disease. The interaction of multiple chemicals and hormones including insulin found in the pancreas control the level of blood sugar in our body. Due to certain defects in the action of the insulin hormone or problems in insulin secretion, which controls the blood sugar level in our body, diabetes occurs. When a diabetic patient produces huge quantities of urine, the disorder is termed diabetes insipidus or DI. Intense thirst accompanies this urine output.

A number of mechanisms help to maintain the balance of fluids within our body. One of the important chemical that is involved in balancing fluid is the antidiuretic hormone or ADH. This hormone is produced by the pituitary gland located in the brain. ADH is continuously released in a healthy person. It influences the quantity of fluid that the kidneys would pass out from the body in the form of urine and the amount the kidneys would reabsorb into the circulatory system.

When there is little fluid in the body, the pituitary gland increases the ADH production. As a result the kidneys retain water and produce less urine. When the fluid content increases, the opposite takes place. DI or diabetes insipidus occurs when either the ADH produced by the pituitary is below normal, or the kidneys cannot respond properly to the ADH. In both cases, the person suffering from DI will pass huge quantities of urine. At the same time, his or her blood will become highly concentrated due to a low fluid volume and a high concentration of solute.

DI can occur in a person above the age of 24 years and is more frequent in males. Apart from hereditary reasons, other causes of DI can be an injury to the head, brain surgery, cancers that have spread to the pituitary gland, sarcoidosis which leads to the destruction of the pituitary gland, any illness that decreases oxygen delivery to the brain, the use of certain medications that decrease ADH production and excessive use of alcohol. DI can also occur in pregnant women, AIDS patients and those having high levels of blood calcium.



Patients with DI drink huge amounts of water and show a preference for cold water. When the amount of urine exceeds the patient's ability to drink replacement water, dehydration sets in. The symptoms include weakness, fatigue, fever, low blood pressure, increased heart rate, dizziness and confusion. If not treated immediately, this can even lead to death. Anybody showing sudden increased thirst and increased urination should be treated for DI. The laboratory test of urine will show dilute urine, mostly of water with no solute. A blood test will show concentrated blood, high in solute and low in fluid.

A number of medications can be given to control the passing out of fluid. These include rasoprassin or pitressin through injection and desmopressin acetate or DDAVP which is inhaled through the nose. Among the other medications are some antidiuretic drugs like chlorpropamide, clofibrate and carbamazepine.

• Felicia Byrnes
• 07/06/2009, 12:59 PM
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