{"id":692475,"date":"2025-09-28T17:10:33","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T14:10:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/not-all-diabetes-is-about-sugar-understanding-diabetes-insipidus\/"},"modified":"2025-09-28T17:10:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T14:10:33","slug":"not-all-diabetes-is-about-sugar-understanding-diabetes-insipidus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/not-all-diabetes-is-about-sugar-understanding-diabetes-insipidus\/","title":{"rendered":"Not all diabetes is about sugar\u2014understanding diabetes insipidus"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3c58575908c\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3c58575908c\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/not-all-diabetes-is-about-sugar-understanding-diabetes-insipidus\/#When_thirst_goes_wrong\" >When thirst goes wrong<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/public-toilets.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/public-toilets.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Credit: Unsplash\/CC0 Public Domain\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/public-toilets.jpg\" alt=\"public toilets\" title=\"Credit: Unsplash\/CC0 Public Domain\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Credit: Unsplash\/CC0 Public Domain<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Diabetes mellitus\u2014known to many as type 1 and type 2 diabetes\u2014gets all the attention with its <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news\/item\/13-11-2024-urgent-action-needed-as-global-diabetes-cases-increase-four-fold-over-past-decades\" target=\"_blank\">rising global prevalence<\/a> and connection to lifestyle and autoimmunity. Meanwhile, its lesser-known relative\u2014diabetes insipidus\u2014more quietly affects <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7996474\/\" target=\"_blank\">hundreds of thousands<\/a> of people worldwide, but is an altogether different condition, unrelated to blood sugar.<\/p>\n<p>Both forms share the same defining symptom: excessive urination. The word <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/topics\/diabetes-612\" target=\"_blank\">diabetes<\/a> comes from ancient Greek meaning &#8220;passing through,&#8221; which perfectly captures what h<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ens to newly affected patients.<\/p>\n<p>In the more-familiar <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/patient.info\/diabetes\/diabetes-mellitus-leaflet\" target=\"_blank\">diabetes mellitus<\/a>, sugar builds up in the blood because the body either doesn&#8217;t make enough insulin or can&#8217;t use it properly. When this happens, extra sugar enters the urine, and that sugar pulls water out of the body along with it.<\/p>\n<p>People with diabetes may notice that they need to urinate more often and in larger amounts than usual. Sometimes, the urine can even have a sweet smell. Legend has it that Hippocrates, the &#8220;father of medicine,&#8221; used to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/17161998\/\" target=\"_blank\">taste his patients&#8217; urine<\/a> to make the diagnosis. Thankfully, we now use dipstick tests instead.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/diabetes-insipidus\/\" target=\"_blank\">Diabetes insipidus<\/a> is very different from diabetes mellitus. It has nothing to do with blood sugar. Instead, the problem is with a hormone called <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/40925856\/\" target=\"_blank\">arginine vasopressin<\/a> (AVP), also known as anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), which normally helps the body control how much water it keeps or loses.<\/p>\n<p>This chemical messenger, produced by the pituitary gland at the base of your skull, acts like your body&#8217;s water conservation system. When you need to hold on to fluid\u2014say, when you&#8217;re dehydrated\u2014AVP tells your kidneys to reabsorb water rather than letting it escape in the urine.<\/p>\n<p>When this system breaks down, the results are dramatic. Without enough AVP, or when the hormone fails to function properly, your kidneys lose their ability to conserve water. No matter how much you drink, you remain perpetually thirsty and dehydrated, producing large volumes of pale, diluted urine. It&#8217;s a frustrating cycle that affects around <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/36683321\/\" target=\"_blank\">2,000 to 3,000 people<\/a> in the UK alone.<\/p>\n<p>The most common culprit is <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/39845881\/\" target=\"_blank\">AVP-deficiency (formerly called central diabetes insipidus)<\/a>, where the problem lies in AVP production itself. It&#8217;s actually made in a brain region called the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kenhub.com\/en\/library\/anatomy\/hypothalamus\" target=\"_blank\">hypothalamus<\/a> before being transported to the pituitary gland, from where it is released.<\/p>\n<p>Brain tumors can damage this delicate system, as can head injuries or <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/39854708\/\" target=\"_blank\">brain surgery<\/a>. Genetics sometimes plays a role, and neurological infections like syphilis or <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30420562\/\" target=\"_blank\">tuberculosis<\/a> can also disrupt hormone production. In some cases, however, doctors are unable to identify a clear cause.<\/p>\n<p>Pregnancy brings its own unique version called <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/40440645\/\" target=\"_blank\">gestational diabetes insipidus<\/a>. The growing placenta produces an enzyme that breaks down AVP in the bloodstream before it can do its job. Fortunately, this rare condition typically resolves after birth.<\/p>\n<p>For AVP-deficiency, treatment is more straightforward. Patients can take <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/39854712\/\" target=\"_blank\">desmopressin<\/a>, a synthetic version of AVP available as tablets, injections, or even a nasal spray. This replacement therapy effectively restores the body&#8217;s ability to conserve water.<\/p>\n<p>Things get trickier with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/40146554\/\" target=\"_blank\">AVP-resistance (formerly called nephrogenic diabetes insipidus)<\/a>, where the kidneys themselves fail to respond to AVP.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes present from birth, this form can also develop later due to kidney damage from electrolyte imbalances or certain medications. <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/40930769\/\" target=\"_blank\">Lithium<\/a>, commonly used to treat bipolar disorder, is one such example. Since the problem is the kidneys&#8217; inability to respond to AVP, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/diabetes-insipidus\/treatment\/\" target=\"_blank\">different medications<\/a> are used. Low-salt diets and careful attention to staying hydrated are also key.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_thirst_goes_wrong\"><\/span>When thirst goes wrong<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Perhaps most puzzling is <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8067029\/\" target=\"_blank\">dipsogenic diabetes insipidus<\/a>, where the brain&#8217;s thirst center goes haywire.<\/p>\n<p>Also located in the hypothalamus, this control center can be damaged by tumors, trauma, or infections, leading to an insatiable urge to drink water. The excessive fluid intake then suppresses AVP production, creating a vicious cycle. Dangerously, it can dilute <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/patient.info\/treatment-medication\/hyponatraemia-leaflet\" target=\"_blank\">blood sodium levels<\/a>, causing headaches, confusion and even seizures.<\/p>\n<p>The symptoms of this condition sometimes overlap with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bestpractice.bmj.com\/topics\/en-gb\/865\" target=\"_blank\">psychogenic polydipsia<\/a>, where mental health disorders\u2014particularly schizophrenia\u2014drive compulsive water drinking. The consequences can be severe, as seen in <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/37206512\/\" target=\"_blank\">one documented case<\/a> where a young patient suffered complications after consuming an astounding 15 liters of water per day.<\/p>\n<p>These extreme examples of pathological water intake stand alongside wellness trends promoting excessive hydration as part of a healthy lifestyle. NFL quarterback Tom Brady has famously recommended drinking around <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/brucelee\/2017\/09\/28\/tom-brady-drinks-about-14-to-37-glasses-of-water-a-day\/\" target=\"_blank\">two gallons daily<\/a>\u2014nearly eight liters.<\/p>\n<p>While we&#8217;re often told to drink more water to avert dehydration, constipation, kidney stones and the like, there&#8217;s clearly a dangerous level. Sustained or unexplained high water consumption is not only toxic to the body but may be a sign of an underlying health problem.<\/p>\n<p>Diabetes insipidus reminds us that the term &#8220;diabetes&#8221; encompasses more than blood sugar problems. This other diabetes may be less common, but for those affected, the consequences of leaving the condition untreated may prove severe. Anyone experiencing persistent excessive thirst, water consumption, and urination should seek medical attention promptly. The cause may turn out to be sugar, hormones, or something else entirely.<\/p>\n<div class=\"d-inline-block text-medium my-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvided by<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Conversation<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"icon_open\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use href=\"https:\/\/medx.b-cdn.net\/tmpl\/v6\/img\/svg\/sprite.svg#icon_open\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"article-main__note mt-4\">\n                                                This article is republished from <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/not-all-diabetes-is-about-sugar-understanding-diabetes-insipidus-265108\" target=\"_blank\">original article<\/a>.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/265108\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\"\/>\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n                                                 <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                 Not all diabetes is about sugar\u2014understanding diabetes insipidus (2025, September 28)<br \/>\n                                                 retrieved 28 September 2025<br \/>\n                                                 from https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-09-diabetes-sugar-insipidus.html\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>\n                                            This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n                                            part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n                                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/news\/2025-09-diabetes-sugar-insipidus.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Credit: Unsplash\/CC0 Public Domain Diabetes mellitus\u2014known to many as type 1 and type 2 diabetes\u2014gets all the attention with its rising global prevalence and connection to lifestyle and autoimmunity. Meanwhile, its lesser-known relative\u2014diabetes insipidus\u2014more quietly affects hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, but is an altogether different condition, unrelated to blood sugar. Both forms share&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":692476,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/public-toilets.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-692475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/692475","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=692475"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/692475\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/692476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=692475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=692475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=692475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}