Diabetes insipidus is a rare disorder affecting the balance of fluids in the body. A hormone called vasopressin or the antidiuretic hormone (ADH), makes the kidneys hold more water during blood filtration. When vasopressin levels are high (when a person is thirsty or dehydrated), the kidneys produce concentrated urine and vice versa. When a person has diabetes insipidus or, more specifically, central diabetes insipidus, the body fails to produce enough vasopressin, resulting in large amounts of urine and other symptoms. So, let us look at the various symptoms of diabetes insipidus in adults and children.
Symptoms of Diabetes Insipidus in Infants
As infants cannot speak how they feel, parents must watch for the following signs in their baby, which could indicate diabetes insipidus:
- Frequent heavy and wet diapers.
- Crying and crankiness.
- Difficulty sleeping.
- Poor feeding.
- Slow or delayed growth.
- Weight loss.
- Vomiting.
- Fever.
Symptoms of Diabetes Insipidus in Children
A child with diabetes insipidus exhibits the following signs and symptoms:
- Drinking excessive water.
- Feeling thirsty often.
- Frequent urination.
- Dehydration.
- Dry skin.
- Low energy.
- Slow growth.
- New instances of bedwetting or waking up to urinate at night.
Symptoms of Diabetes Insipidus in Adults
The following symptoms appear in adults dealing with this condition:
- Feeling extremely thirsty throughout the day.
- Drinking large amounts of fluids to quench the thirst.
- Prefer cold drinks over warm drinks.
- Frequent urination during the day and night.
- Polyuria or production of more than 3 litres of pale dilute urine daily.
- Feeling fussy and irritable.
- Muscle pains and overall weakness.
- Dehydration due to excessive loss of body fluids.
- Along with dehydration, symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, sluggishness, nausea, confusion and sometimes loss of consciousness can occur.
Living with Diabetes Insipidus
Diabetes insipidus is a disorder that one cannot prevent by taking certain measures. One has to learn how to live with diabetes insipidus. The disorder is usually associated with other underlying conditions in the body. It can affect a person at any age, even though it is a rare condition. Diabetes insipidus affects one person out of 25,000 people in the United States. Though prevention of the disease is not possible, one can take sufficient measures to manage the symptoms that appear with the disorder. Health care providers often prescribe medicines to manage symptoms like excessive thirst and frequent urination.
The management of symptoms of diabetes insipidus depends on the underlying cause. People with mild diabetes insipidus are usually not prescribed any medication but are monitored more frequently by the doctor. Patients whose diabetes insipidus results from an underlying kidney problem are often advised to reduce their salt intake and increase fluid consumption to avoid dehydration.
If the disorder is triggered due to medication, the doctor may prescribe an alternative to avoid the condition in a patient. Sometimes tumours can affect the hypothalamus and pituitary gland resulting in the development of this condition. In such cases, doctors suggest surgery to remove the abnormal growth and restore sufficient production of the antidiuretic hormone. With proper management of the associated symptoms, doctors can improve the quality of life of a person dealing with diabetes insipidus to a large extent.
Causes types of Diabetes Insipidus and its Treatment
- Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
It is caused when there is a fault in kidney structures, or the patient has a chronic kidney condition. Due to this, the kidneys cannot function properly in response to the antidiuretic hormone. Sometimes nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is also caused by consuming certain medications. Stopping such medications helps in restoring normal kidney function. Medications used to treat this form of diabetes insipidus include indomethacin, amiloride, and hydrochlorothiazide.
- Central diabetes insipidus
Central diabetes insipidus results from insufficient production of the antidiuretic hormone due to tumour, head injury, illness, or genetic predisposition. To improve the hormone levels in the body, synthetic antidiuretic hormone, desmopressin or vasopressin are prescribed to be taken 2 to 3 times per day. These medications are available in various dosage forms like tablets, injections, and nasal sprays.
- Gestational diabetes insipidus
It is a rare condition affecting pregnant women. An enzyme produced by the placenta is known to destroy the anti-diuretic hormone produced in the mother’s body. To relieve the symptoms of gestational diabetes insipidus, doctors prescribe desmopressin to the expectant mother affected by the condition. Normal levels of the antidiuretic hormone are restored after the baby’s birth.
- Primary polydipsia or dipsogenic diabetes insipidus
The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating thirst in the body. Any damage affecting this mechanism results in primary polydipsia. The condition is also sometimes associated with mental health conditions like schizophrenia. Excessive thirst and the production of large amounts of urine are primary symptoms. As there is no treatment for primary polydipsia, measures like sucking on candy or ice chips can help keep the mouth moist and relieve the urge of drinking fluids.
Conclusion
Though a lifelong condition, diabetes insipidus is rarely fatal and can be managed with lifestyle changes and medications. People with the disorder should always carry water wherever they go and drink it often to prevent dehydration. They must carry a medical bracelet or a medical alert card at all times to alert people around in case of an emergency. People often get confused between diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus. Diabetes insipidus is a rare condition, whereas diabetes mellitus is a common disorder affecting a large section of the population. With the right treatment, one can manage the symptoms of diabetes insipidus effectively.