FACT SHEET

Diabetes
Insipidus

W HAT I S D I ABE TE S TYPES OF DI, THEIR CAUSES,

IN S I P I D U S ( DI ) ? AND TREATMENTS
There are four types of DI. The goal of treatment for all types of
Diabetes insipidus, also called DI, is a rare condition that leads
DI is to relieve thirst and to decrease the amount of urine being
to frequent urination (passing a lot of clear urine) and excessive
made. The specific treatment depends on the type.
thirst. The condition may be caused by problems with your
pituitary gland and/or your kidneys. Type Cause Treatment
Central DI Damage to your pituitary UÊ Synthetic ADH:
(the most gland or hypothalamus desmopressin,
common from head injury, surgery, given by
DI D Y O U KN O W? type) or tumors. This can lead
to a lack of ADH.
injection, nasal
spray, or pill
DI is not related to diabetes mellitus (type 1 UÊ In mild cases,
and type 2 diabetes), which is when your levels treatment is
increased water
of blood sugar (glucose) are too high.
intake
Nephrogenic The pituitary releases UÊ Anti-inflammatory
DI enough ADH into the medicine
body but your kidneys (indomethacin)
DEFINITIONS can’t respond to it. UÊ Medications such
This can result from the as water pills
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH): A hormone that helps the
prescription drug lithium, (HCTZ and
kidneys work well and keeps blood levels of sodium (salt) and
sickle cell disease, or amiloride)
water in the normal range. ADH is also called vasopressin.
genetic problems. UÊ Low-sodium diet
Hypothalamus: An area of the brain that makes ADH. (if needed)
UÊ Fluids as needed
Pituitary gland: A tiny gland found at the base of the brain;
it stores and releases ADH and other hormones into the
bloodstream.

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 Type Cause Treatment You also might have an imaging test of your head (an MRI) to
check for problems with your pituitary gland. Your doctor also
Dipsogenic Excess fluid intake, No known treatment
may order genetic tests.
DI caused by yet except for
UÊ a problem with your restricting fluid
thirst mechanism, or intake WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF DI?
UÊ deliberately drinking
Taking too much desmopressin and/or drinking lots of fluids
too many fluids (may
may cause low sodium levels in the blood, which can lead to
occur with mental
headache, nausea, confusion, seizures or, in rare cases, death.
illness)
Other complications are dehydration, low blood pressure, and
This can lead to low
high sodium levels in the blood.
blood sodium and
possible brain damage.
Pregnancy- A substance made by the Desmopressin WHAT IS THE LONG-TERM OUTLOOK
related DI placenta that prevents (nasal spray or pill) FOR PEOPLE WITH DI?
the mother’s ADH from Long-term outlook depends on the type of DI. Usually, adults
working. don’t have serious problems unless they do not have access to
water or other fluids.

HOW DOES YOUR BODY REGULATE

FLUID?
The amount of fluid in your body is a balance between how much
Questions to ask your doctor
liquid you drink and how much urine you make. Your kidneys and UÊ What is causing my DI?
bladder are part of the system.
UÊ What are my options for treatment?
Your kidneys remove extra fluid from your blood. If there’s extra UÊ What are the risks and benefits of the each
fluid in your system, your kidneys send it to your bladder. Your treatment option?
bladder stores and then excretes extra fluid as urine. If you take in
less water, the kidneys make less urine and send water back into
UÊ How long will I need treatment?
your blood. ADH is released if you get dehydrated and the sodium UÊ How often will I need check-ups and blood
level in the blood rises, which helps your kidneys retain water. tests?
UÊ How much water or other fluids should I
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DI? drink every day?
Symptoms include
UÊ Being very thirsty
UÊ Urinating a lot RESOURCES
UÊ Wetting the bed at night
UÊ Find-an-Endocrinologist: www.hormone.org or
Children might be listless and feverish. They also might vomit call 1-800-HORMONE (1-800-467-6663)
and/or have diarrhea. They may have delayed growth. UÊ Hormone Health Network information about pituitary gland
disorders: www.hormone.org/Pituitary/overview.cfm
UÊ National Institutes of Health information about DI:
HOW IS DI DIAGNOSED? — kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/insipidus/
Your doctor has several ways to check for DI and to find the — www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diabetesinsipidus.html
cause: UÊ Mayo Clinic information about DI: www.mayoclinic.com/
UÊ Analysis of urine samples health/diabetes-insipidus/DS00799
UÊ Blood tests to see how your pituitary gland is working UÊ American Academy of Family Physicians information about DI:
UÊ A fluid deprivation test, which shows how well the kidneys are familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/
working. The test monitors the amount of urine made over the diabetes-insipidus.html
course of several hours without drinking fluids.

EDITORS The Hormone Health Network offers free, online resources based
on the most advanced clinical and scientific knowledge from
Anne Klibanski, MD The Endocrine Society (www.endo-society.org). The Network’s goal
Janet Schlechte, MD is to move patients from educated to engaged, from informed to
Nicholas Tritos, MD active partners in their health care. This fact sheet is also available
in Spanish at www.hormone.org/Spanish.

July 2013 Diabetes Insipidus Fact Sheet www.hormone.org

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