Hypothalamus and pituitary gland work in proper coordination to maintain the body’s overall homeostasis while ensuring that all the hormones released into the bloodstream are within normal levels. These biochemical messages play a crucial role in ensuring that all the organs are performing in the way they are expected to, which is why any deficiency or abrupt rise in their levels will lead to diseases and health conditions. The same thing happens when the pituitary gland does not secrete the vasopressin hormone adequately, and the kidneys fail to reabsorb the water from the filtrate. Based on several factors, there are four major types of diabetes insipidus classification, which have been discussed below.
What is diabetes insipidus?
Human kidneys act as filtration organs that will help remove the excess water from your blood through osmoregulation. However, sometimes, your body may need more water so that the hypothalamus will release more antidiuretic hormones into the bloodstream. This will trigger your kidney to reabsorb the water from the filtrate and maintain the water balance.
However, if your body fails to produce this hormone at the expected rate, it will indicate the kidneys do nothing for the reabsorption of the water. As a result, this will further cause dehydration since more water will be drawn out from the body. Also, you will have the chance to urinate more, and this condition is termed polyuria. You will also feel excessive thirst, but despite drinking a lot of water, water loss won’t be replenished.
To know more about the causes, proper treatment, and diagnosis, it is crucial to learn more about the diabetes insipidus classification to understand the actual reasons behind this disease. There are two major organ systems due to which this disease is caused-
i. The endocrine system involves the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
ii. The renal or excretory system includes kidneys, collecting duct, and the urinary bladder.
Now, if any system becomes unable to retain water in the blood, it will lead to diabetes insipidus. Therefore, it can be classified into four different types according to the organs affected, the site of the problem, and the cause.
What are the four types of diabetes insipidus?
This section will discuss the four types of diabetes insipidus, along with the causes, symptoms, impact, and more.
Central diabetes insipidus
When the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland fails to produce enough vasopressin into the bloodstream, your kidney won’t receive enough indication about when to start the reabsorption process. Therefore, it won’t be able to hold in the fluid, and you will urinate more frequently.
Causes
If there is any problem with the working of the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland, the condition will lead to central diabetes insipidus.
· Tumour
· Cancerous growth
· Blocked blood vessel
· Inflammation of the tissues
· Surgical removal of the organ
Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
One of the major types of diabetes insipidus that has been more prevalent is the nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. It is caused due to the inability of your kidneys to respond to the ADH or vasopressin. It automatically absorbs more water from the blood and results in dehydration and excessive urination.
Causes
· Any chronic renal problem
· Prolonged intake of lithium medicines and drugs
· Lower potassium levels in the blood
· Block urinary passage
· Higher calcium levels in the blood
Gestation diabetes insipidus
This particular diabetes insipidus classification occurs during pregnancy mainly. Usually, it appears during the first pregnancy, and once you give birth, it will disappear. The placenta will release an enzyme that breaks down the vasopressin hormone. Therefore, it will reduce the hormone level and prevent the kidney from absorbing the water. In other cases, prostaglandins are also released into the blood, which renders your kidney ineffective and thus, it won’t respond to the vasopressin levels of your blood.
Dipsogenic diabetes insipidus
This disease is caused when your body cannot control the thirst and forces you to drink more water to quench the need. As a result, you will get more water, and therefore, the vasopressin levels will decrease further. This also causes diabetes insipidus indirectly and is often caused due to the combined effects of the hypothalamus and the kidney itself.
Causes
· Block in the kidney or the hypothalamus causes the dipsogenic diabetes insipidus
· Cancers or tumours also cause this disease.
· Any surgical removal is another major cause
Some Drugs and treatment of diabetes insipidus-
Chlorpropamide
Clofibrate
Indapamide
Indomethacin
Amiloride
First of all , the doctor will tell you to drink enough fluids. That will replace the constant loss of water. Treatments also depend on which type diabetes you have:
-
Central diabetes insipidus. Doctor recommended medicine like vasopressin (Pitressin). Desmopressin(vasopressin) regulates urine output, maintains fluid balance, and prevents dehydration.
-
Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Very hard to cure this diabetes . If it’s caused by a drug, stopping the medicine helps. These include indomethacin and diuretics like amiloride . Though diuretics typically make you pee more, in this case, they help you make less urine. Sometimes, this condition goes away if you treat the cause.
-
Dipsogenic diabetes insipidus. No treatment for this diabetes condition. Some things can ease symptoms. Suck on ice chips or sour candy to help moisten your mouth, boost saliva flow, and lower your desire to drink.
-
Gestational diabetes insipidus. Doctor recommended desmopressin while you’re pregnant. This problem should go away after you have the baby.
Conclusion
With now the diabetes insipidus classification known to you, it is easily understandable that despite being a rare disease, it needs to be treated immediately because this type of diabetes can lead to severe kidney problems. It may often lead to kidney failure and even extreme dehydration leading to strokes in prolonged cases. This is why everyone should get themselves tested as soon as the symptoms of this disease appear for the first time. Also, sometimes, it can be pretty challenging to restore the condition because it is a hormonal disease, and unlike diabetes mellitus Type 2, this condition can’t be reversed.