Do I Have Diabetes Insipidus?

Do you feel thirsty all the time and have a "dry" feeling that's always present, no matter how much water you drink?

Do you need to drink large amounts of water or crave for an ice water?

Do you have frequent urination (you urinate every 15 to 20 minutes)?

Do you have pale, watery, odorless urine?

Do you produce large amounts of diluted urine (from 3 to nearly 20 liters per day)?

Do you have a frequent need to get up to urinate during the night?

Do your symptoms (constant thirst and frequent urination) interfere with your sleep or your daily activities?

Do you have tiredness, irritability and difficulty concentrating?

Do you feel generally unwell and "run down" much of the time for no apparent reason?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have diabetes insipidus. Diabetes insipidus is a medical condition that refers to an imbalance of fluids in the body. It is characterized by increased thirst (even though you drank something recently) and the production of large amounts of urine. Normally, a healthy person can produce about 1 to 2 liters of urine per day, while a person with diabetes insipidus can produce nearly 20 liters of urine daily. The urine is dilute and odorless (insipid), hence the name of the disease. Diabetes insipidus is a rare condition that affects about 1 in 25, 000 people in the general population.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have diabetes insipidus. Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a rare medical condition characterized by a problem with the production or improper function of a hormone called antidiuretic hormone (ADH). ADH plays an important role in regulating the amount of fluid in your body. ADH is produced in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. From there it is transferred and stored in the pituitary gland. When it is necessary to reduce the excretion of water from the body, the pituitary gland releases this hormone. In people with DI, the kidneys are unable to retain water.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have diabetes insipidus. Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a rare disorder that refers to the disturbed function of the mechanism for regulating the water balance in the body. People with DI feel thirsty regardless of the amount of fluid they drank, and have a frequent need to urinate, even during the night. DI can cause serious dehydration and an imbalance in electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium). Your doctor can make a diagnosis based on various tests including a water deprivation test, an MRI and genetic screening. Treatment includes increased fluid intake, medications and dietary changes.