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| courtesy of MedLine |
Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a condition in which the kidneys are not able to conserve water. The kidneys filter the blood, they conserve and release water based upon a hormone called vasopressin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland. When the kidneys fail to respond to the hormone vasopressin, too much water is lost from the body. If this condition is not treated, it can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland can cause central DI certain drugs and kidney disease can also cause DI. Diabetes insipidus can also occur when there is a defect in the structure of the kidneys, it can occur during pregnancy if the placenta makes an enzyme that destroys vasopressin in the mother, this is an issue only while the mother is pregnant. When treated, DI does not have a significant effect impact on the body or life expectancy.Statistics
Diabetes insipidus is not common, 1 case per 25,000 people.
