Diabetes Insipidus

Diabetes Insipidus is a disease that is linked to the pituitary gland in the brain. When the word diabetes is mentioned most people will assume that we are speaking of Diabetes Mellitus (Sugar Diabetes). Diabetes Insipidus though is not caused by a lack of insulin or the lack of insulin regulation. Diabetes Insipidus happens when the pituitary gland does not make enough of the hormone ADH.

It is often confused with diabetes mellitus because a symptom that both diseases have in common is frequent and excessive urination.

Diabetes insipidus is sometimes called water diabetes and is completely different to diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) which has just been discussed. Diabetes insipidus occurs when the pineal gland in the brain is not producing enough of the chemical ADH (anti-diuretic hormone). This chemical is produced by the pineal gland in the brain and is carried by the blood stream to the kidneys where it stimulates the kidneys to reabsorb water in the process of producing urine. Water is a precious commodity for the body and thus the water in the body is constantly being purified and recycled by the kidneys.

The ADH is produced by the pineal gland in the brain which acts like a control centre for regulating the amount of water in the body. The ADH is simply a messenger chemical which is produced by this control centre (the pineal gland) to tell the water-recycling factory (the kidneys) how much water should be recycled and reabsorbed. If the body has too much water (over hydrated) less ADH is sent to the kidneys which then produce more urine and thus the excess water is expelled. If the body needs to conserve water or is starting to dehydrate then more ADH is sent to the kidneys which then produce less urine and water is conserved.

The symptoms of diabetes insipidus are simply drinking more and peeing more. The affected dog will feel fine and act normally. The primary problem is that the kidneys are producing too much urine because the body wants to avoid becoming dehydrated and thus needs to replace the lost water, this will increase the patient’s thirst levels. Some dogs may even seem to become incontinent and start wetting indoors and even start wetting their beds.

There are many medicines available today which function to decrease the quantity of urine produced in the body. They include injections, inhalations, antidiuretic drugs and so on. Some patients will also need to stick to a certain diet, as advised by the physician.

Taking in enough water and fluids can easily control the simplest, most uncomplicated form of diabetes insipidus. But if this particular diabetes symptom is neglected, it can lead to several serious complications at a later time and may even turn fatal if left unattended to.

There are four types of DI. These are :

1. Neurogenic diabetes insipidus – also called central diabetes insipidus.This is caused when the anti-diuretic hormone or vasopressin produced by the hypothalamus and stored in the pituitary gland is not produced in sufficient quantity. Vasopressin causes the kidneys to preserve water but excrete the same amount of waste products.
2. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) also known as vasopressin resistance because the kidneys are unaffected by the secretion of vasopressin. NDI is believed to by genetically passed on or caused by kidney diseases or as a side-effect of using drugs like lithium for other illnesses.
3. Gestagenic and occurs during pregnancy.
4. Dipsogenic DI and is characterized by excessive fluid consumption. The excess fluids cause vasopressin to be supressed.

Diabetes insipidus testing involves a fluid deprivation test. As the name suggests the patient avoids drinking any fluids for a prescribed time period. The urine is then analyzed to determine it’s concentration and composition. Diabetes insipidus treatment involves having a good and plentiful source of fluid. In the case of neurogenic DI the drug desmopressin is taken to control the frequent thirst and urination.

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