How to Control Diabetes Insipidus
Diabetes is the general medical term for a category of disorders causing increased urination. These diseases are the result of a hormone or endocrine imbalance. Diabetes INSIPIDUS is rare disease characterized by dangerous increase of urination due to insuficency of Anti-Diuretic Hormone, or ADH, which is produced by the hypothalimus in the brain. This disease is not Diabetes Mellitus or excessive blood sugar.
- Go to the the doctor immediately if you have the following symptoms:
- Excessive urinary output -- in excess of 5 liters of urine per day
- Excessive thirst
- Weakness
- Extreme dehydration
- Lethargy
- Muscle pain
- Ask the doctor about the types of diabetes insipidus.
- Central diabetes insipidus -- originating with the hypothalamus lowering production of ADH.
- Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus -- originating in the kidney, due to injury, pharmaceutical side effect or interaction and disease where the kidney can no longer recognize ADH levels.
- Ask the doctor regarding tests for diabetes insipidus.
- Expect to have testing scheduled over several hours possibly at the hospital.
- Do not drink during the tests. Blood and urine will be taken over several hours to determine ADH levels in the blood compared to urine output over time.
- Wait for the results of the tests. Maintain fluid hydration.
- Take your medications as schedualed. Vasopression is commonly prescribed for central diabetes incipidus. Indocin and diuretics are commonly prescribed for Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
- Lower salt intake with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Salt increases kidney urinary output.
- Drink water only when thirsty.
- Take supplemental potassium, vitamins and other minerals, do not exceed physical daily requirements unless instructed by a physician.
- Traditional Chinese Medical approach is to balance body, address autoimmune factors and to integrate with western medical treatments.