Diabetes Insipidus Treatment

Diabetes insipidus treatment depends on the cause of the condition. Diabetes inspidus is an uncommon form of diabetes and is different from the diabetes cause by too much glucose in the blood. Diabetes insipidus is often referred to as “water” diabetes.

Diabetes insipidus is caused when the kidneys have no ability to retain water, which in turn leads to frequent urinations with large volumes of water and extreme thirst. It is a condition that is not common and occurs when the kidneys are performing their normal duties of filtrating blood. The retaining of water in the kidneys is controlled by an antidiuretic hormone (ADH) commonly called vasopressin. This hormone is produced in the part of the brain called the hypothalamus and controlled by the pituitary gland which is a small gland at the base of the brain.

There can be several causes for this type of diabetes. It can be caused by damage to the pituitary gland or hypothalamus because of surgery, head injury, infection, or tumor. This is called central diabetes insipidus because the area that controls the retaining of fluid is where the problem lies. Central diabetes insipidus is the most common type of diabetes insipidus. In treating diabetes insipidus, the underlying cause must be treated. For example; the head injury must be treated, the infection controlled or the tumor removed. Central diabetes insipidus can also be controlled with vasopressin either as a nasal spray or oral tablets.

When diabetes insipidus is caused by the inability of the kidneys to respond to ADH, it is known as nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and is caused by a problem based usually with the kidneys. This commonly occurs because of a problem caused by something else such as blockage of tubules in the kidneys, blockage in the urinary tract, use of certain medications, high levels of calcium, or low levels of potassium. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is an extremely rare form of diabetes. When the cause of this form of diabetes insipidus is identified and corrected, the disease usually clears up. Medications used to treat nephrogenic diabetes insipidus include anti-inflammatory medication indomethacin and diuretics such as amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).

Complications of either type of diabetes insipidus can be caused by dehydration which causes dry skin, fever, weight loss and rapid heart beat and/or electrolyte imbalance which causes fatigue, irritability, headaches and muscle pains. In diabetes insipidus that goes undiagnosed, the dehydration can cause joint damage because of the lack of water in the tissues that surround and protect the joint. If you develop any of the symptoms or complications that can be related to either type of diabetes insipidus, you should meet with your primary care physician as quickly as possible before dehydration causes damage to organs of the body that can not be reversed or repaired.

There is currently no way to prevent diabetes insipidus but the prognosis is good when the underlying reason for this problem is identified and corrected quickly.