Diabetes insipidus | Consequences of diabetes

Diabetes insipidus

Diabetes insipidus has not much in common with diabetes mellitus. Only the increased urge to urinate and the feeling of thirst are common to them. This is why diabetes insipidus also has completely different consequences.

A diabetes insipidus is characterized by ADH deficiency. ADH is a hormone of the pituitary gland, which normally ensures that water is retained in the kidney and correspondingly less water is excreted in the urine. In diabetes insipidus there is a deficiency of the hormone, so there is a strong urinary excretion with a strong urge to urinate.

The urine that is excreted is very weakly concentrated. Because the body loses so much fluid, there is also a great thirst. The cause of the disease can be in the brain or the kidneys.

Either the hormone is not produced sufficiently in the brain (diabetes insipidus centralis) or it is produced but cannot act properly on the kidneys (diabetes insipidus renalis). If diabetes insipidus is diagnosed and adequately treated, there are generally no long-term consequences of the disease. Those affected are not restricted in their quality of life under therapy and can lead a completely normal life.

Depending on the trigger of the disease, successful therapy of the underlying disease can even cure diabetes insipidus, which is not possible with diabetes mellitus. This is possible, for example, if increased calcium or decreased potassium levels or a brain tumor are the triggers. However, if the disease is not sufficiently treated, complications can arise as a result of the high fluid loss. If too much ADH is supplied from the outside, it can lead to overhydration, which can cause clouding of consciousness and cramps.