Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesHow Much to DrinkTreatmentManagement
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
How Much to Drink
Treatment
Management
Diabetesinsipidus(DI) is a rare disorder in which the body cannot properly regulate fluids. It is not related to the more common diabetes mellitus, in which the body cannot properly regulate blood glucose (sugar) levels. People with DI have a higher-than-usual urine output.
Are My Symptoms Diabetes Insipidus or Regular Dehydration?
While one of the hallmark symptoms of diabetes insipidus is thirst, there is more to it than what you would experience with regular dehydration. Most healthy people produce around 1 to 3 quarts (32–96 ounces) of urine a day. However, people with DI may produce up to 20 quarts (640 ounces) of urine in a day.
Distinguishing Symptoms
The main symptoms of diabetes insipidus are:
The main complication of DI isdehydration(the body does not have enough fluids due to high fluid output and/or insufficient fluid intake); dehydration can lead toelectrolyte imbalances. Electrolytes are charged minerals in the blood, such as sodium, potassium, and calcium.
Symptoms of dehydration include:
When to Ask a Provider
If you are not already diagnosed with diabetes insipidus and are experiencing any symptoms of DI or dehydration, contact a healthcare provider for further evaluation. They can review your health and medical history, perform a physical examination, and order certain urine and blood tests to help check for DI.
Severe dehydration should be treated promptly. It can lead to serious complications such as seizures, irreversible brain damage, and even death. Seek medical attention immediately if you feel any of the following:
Subtypes of Diabetes InsipidusThough the exact cause may vary, diabetes insipidus is usually due to problems with a hormone calledvasopressin, also called antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Vasopressin helps thekidneysregulate the amount of fluid in the body.The four main types of DI are classified depending on the specific cause of vasopressin dysregulation. They include:Central diabetes insipidus(also called arginine vasopressin deficiency)is when the body doesn’t make enough vasopressin.Nephrogenic diabetes insipidusis when the kidneys don’t respond to vasopressin as they should.Dipsogenic diabetes insipidusis when there is aproblem with the hypothalamus(a hormone-producing area of the brain that makes vasopressin), causing you to feel thirsty and drink more fluids.Gestational diabetes insipidusis when a pregnant person’splacentamakes too much of an enzyme that breaks down vasopressin in the body during pregnancy.
Subtypes of Diabetes Insipidus
Though the exact cause may vary, diabetes insipidus is usually due to problems with a hormone calledvasopressin, also called antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Vasopressin helps thekidneysregulate the amount of fluid in the body.The four main types of DI are classified depending on the specific cause of vasopressin dysregulation. They include:Central diabetes insipidus(also called arginine vasopressin deficiency)is when the body doesn’t make enough vasopressin.Nephrogenic diabetes insipidusis when the kidneys don’t respond to vasopressin as they should.Dipsogenic diabetes insipidusis when there is aproblem with the hypothalamus(a hormone-producing area of the brain that makes vasopressin), causing you to feel thirsty and drink more fluids.Gestational diabetes insipidusis when a pregnant person’splacentamakes too much of an enzyme that breaks down vasopressin in the body during pregnancy.
Though the exact cause may vary, diabetes insipidus is usually due to problems with a hormone calledvasopressin, also called antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Vasopressin helps thekidneysregulate the amount of fluid in the body.
The four main types of DI are classified depending on the specific cause of vasopressin dysregulation. They include:
Who Gets Diabetes Insipidus?
People of any age can develop diabetes insipidus. Risk factors include:
How Much Water to Drink With Diabetes Insipidus
Staying hydratedis important when you live with diabetes insipidus. Drinking enough water and other liquids to prevent dehydration is the main treatment for diabetes insipidus.
No set amount of water to drink per day has been established for people with diabetes insipidus. Thirst levels can vary depending on the severity of the condition, as well as the specific type of DI you have.
Monitoring your urine color (aiming for pale yellow or straw-colored urine) can help you determine if you need to drink more water. Talk with your healthcare provider to determine how much water you need to drink each day for DI.
Diabetes Insipidus Treatment
Aside from drinking enough water, treatment options depend on the type of DI. Specialists who help treat DI include endocrinologists (specialists in hormonal conditions) or nephrologists (specialists in kidney conditions). Treatment may include:
Managing Effects of Chronic Diabetes Insipidus
Some of the chronic effects of DI, such as excessive thirst and frequent urination, can impact daily life. Getting into the habit ofdrinking more waterand having a water bottle with you at all times can help you stay hydrated.
Sucking on ice chips or sugar-free candies can help keep your mouth moist and increase saliva. If you are waking multiple times at night to urinate, a healthcare provider may recommend taking a small dose of desmopressin before going to bed.
Maintaining proper nutritional intake is also important to prevent unintentional weight loss,lower-than-expected growth (in children), or nutrient deficiencies.
Though DI can be a chronic condition, with proper treatment, people with DI can expect to live a full and normal life.
Summary
There are four main types of DI, depending on the cause of the vasopressin dysregulation. Hallmark symptoms of DI include the need to urinate frequently, excessive thirst, and having a large output of clear or light-colored urine.
DI can lead to symptoms of dehydration, such as dry mouth, dry skin, dizziness, light-headedness, fatigue, or dark-colored urine.
The main treatment for DI is drinking enough water to prevent dehydration. Other treatments will vary depending on the type of DI you have but may include medications and stopping medications that can trigger DI.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes insipidus.National Library of Medicine. Medline Plus.Dehydration.Jinnouchi T, Yoshimoto M, Ogino K, Oji T, Hayashi M.Lithium-induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus with efficacy of desmopressin in combination with thiazide diuretics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a case report with a review of the literature.Intern Med. 2024;63(10):1399-1404. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.2437-23Ito A, Nozaki A, Horie I, Ando T, Kawakami A.Relation between change in treatment for central diabetes insipidus and body weight loss.Minerva Endocrinol. 2019;44(1):85-90. doi:10.23736/S0391-1977.18.02718-9
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes insipidus.National Library of Medicine. Medline Plus.Dehydration.Jinnouchi T, Yoshimoto M, Ogino K, Oji T, Hayashi M.Lithium-induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus with efficacy of desmopressin in combination with thiazide diuretics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a case report with a review of the literature.Intern Med. 2024;63(10):1399-1404. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.2437-23Ito A, Nozaki A, Horie I, Ando T, Kawakami A.Relation between change in treatment for central diabetes insipidus and body weight loss.Minerva Endocrinol. 2019;44(1):85-90. doi:10.23736/S0391-1977.18.02718-9
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes insipidus.National Library of Medicine. Medline Plus.Dehydration.Jinnouchi T, Yoshimoto M, Ogino K, Oji T, Hayashi M.Lithium-induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus with efficacy of desmopressin in combination with thiazide diuretics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a case report with a review of the literature.Intern Med. 2024;63(10):1399-1404. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.2437-23Ito A, Nozaki A, Horie I, Ando T, Kawakami A.Relation between change in treatment for central diabetes insipidus and body weight loss.Minerva Endocrinol. 2019;44(1):85-90. doi:10.23736/S0391-1977.18.02718-9
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes insipidus.
National Library of Medicine. Medline Plus.Dehydration.
Jinnouchi T, Yoshimoto M, Ogino K, Oji T, Hayashi M.Lithium-induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus with efficacy of desmopressin in combination with thiazide diuretics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a case report with a review of the literature.Intern Med. 2024;63(10):1399-1404. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.2437-23
Ito A, Nozaki A, Horie I, Ando T, Kawakami A.Relation between change in treatment for central diabetes insipidus and body weight loss.Minerva Endocrinol. 2019;44(1):85-90. doi:10.23736/S0391-1977.18.02718-9
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