Q: Hi Doc, is there something like Diabetes Insipidus and what causes it?

A: There is something like Diabetes Insipidus and before you ask…no, it’s not related to Diabetes Mellitus 😀

Normally, the kidneys remove excess fluids in the bloodstream and store this temporarily as urine in the bladder prior to urination. This process maintains the fluid balance in the body as thirst is triggered when there is loss of body fluids eg through sweating and urination is triggered in instances where there is excess body fluids. In the first instance, the body conserves fluids and makes less urine. This process is regulated by a hormone called the Anti-Diuretic Hormone (ADH) which is released when there is dehydration which causes the body to conserve fluids and the kidneys to release water back into the blood stream. This causes urine to become more concentrated.

In Diabetes Insipidus (DI), a rare disease…