We all know that diabetes has different types, but have you encountered Diabetes Insipidus? Diabetes Insipidus is a rare type of diabetes that affects about 1 in 25,000 people worldwide, according to the NIDDK. From the word “insipid,” meaning lacking, diabetes insipidus is a rare condition that causes the patient to make colorless and odorless urine in large amounts, especially compared to someone who doesn’t have diabetes insipidus. It can also be identified as:
- Central Diabetes Insipidus – when the body doesn’t make enough vasopressin, also called the “antidiuretic” hormone.
- Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus – where the body makes enough vasopressin, but your kidneys don’t respond to the hormone as they should.
- Dipsogenic Diabetes Insipidus – a problem with your hypothalamus causes you to feel thirsty and drink more liquids. As a result, you may need to urinate often.
- Gestational Diabetes Insipidus – a rare, temporary condition that can develop during pregnancy.
Difference Between Most Common Types Of Diabetes And Diabetes Insipidus
Even though it is a type of diabetes, it is still different compared to the common types of diabetes. Diabetes Mellitus, often shortened or called either diabetes itself or type 1, type 2 diabetes, is a condition that makes it hard for the body to turn food into energy, thus resulting in high glucose or sugar levels in the blood, which then causes other problems and risks.
While Diabetes Insipidus is a condition where the hormone called vasopressin, which helps balance the liquids in the body, is not functioning correctly, so the patient may have normal blood sugar levels; however, their kidney would not be functioning correctly, thus resulting in large amounts of urine.
Risks And Symptoms
As mentioned, with Diabetes Insipidus, the most common problem would be peeing large amounts of urine. Now, this may cause losing significant amounts of electrolytes that would lead to dehydration, which would lead to other problems. Listed below are other symptoms that a patient with this type of diabetes:
- Being extremely thirsty
- Producing large amounts of pale urine or Polyuria
- Frequently needing to get up to urinate during the night
- Preferring cold drinks
- Dry mouth
- Feeling dizzy or light-headed when standing
- Feeling tired
- Difficulty performing simple mental tasks
- Weakness
- Muscle pains
- Crankiness
- Nausea
- Fainting
It’s vital that you seek the help of a healthcare professional as soon as you can if you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned. Some of the tests that may conduct to find if you have Diabetes Insipidus would be:
- Urinalysis
- Blood Tests
- Water Deprivation Tests
- MRI
- Genetic Screening
Conclusion
To conclude, since it’s a rare type of diabetes, learning more about Diabetes Insipidus and bringing awareness to it is important. Detecting it early will prevent further complications, so it’s always best to get checked as soon as you notice that you are experiencing its symptoms. And, of course, learning about the other types of diabetes to better know what to look out for and how to deal with them is always a good step towards prevention and moving towards leading a healthier lifestyle.