Diabetes insipidus is a rare condition in which your body produces too much urine and isn’t able to properly retain water.
Diabetes insipidus is caused by an issue with a
hormone
called antidiuretic hormone (ADH, or vasopressin), either your body doesn’t make enough of ADH or your kidneys don’t use it properly.
ADH helps regulate the water balance in your body by controlling the amount of water your kidneys reabsorb while they’re filtering waste out of your blood. Your body normally produces and releases more ADH when you’re dehydrated or losing blood pressure. The increase in ADH tells your kidneys to hold onto more water instead of releasing it in your urine.
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH, or vasopressin or arginine vasopressin) is made by the
hypothalamus
and transferred to the
pituitary gland
for storage and release.
Diabetes insipidus is classified into two types: 1- Central diabetes insipidus where the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland are not secreting enough ADH. 2- Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus where the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland are secreting enough ADH but the kidneys are not responding to the hormone.
Diagnostic tests may include fluid deprivation tests and measurement of hormone levels.