Central Diabetes Insipidus

Diabetes insipidus is a medical condition that results when the kidneys stop filtering urine. Central diabetes insipidus is the most common form of the disease. Central diabetes insipidus is caused by damage to the pituitary gland, which disrupts the normal storage and release of antidiuretic hormone. Treatment for central diabetes insipidus often involves a synthetic hormone called desmopressin.

 

Central Diabetes Insipidus: An Introduction

Central diabetes insipidus is the most common type of clinically serious diabetes insipidus, a medical condition that occurs when the kidneys stop filtering urine normally. This results in a person urinating large volumes of fluid and always being thirsty. Other types of diabetes insipidus include:
 

Diabetes Insipidus Versus Diabetes Mellitus

Although their names may be similar, diabetes insipidus should not be confused with diabetes mellitus, which results from insulin deficiency or resistance, leading to high blood glucose.
 While they may have similar signs and symptoms (such as excessive thirst and excessive urination), diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus are unrelated.
 
(Click Symptoms of Diabetes for more information on the common symptoms of diabetes mellitus.)
 
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is far more common than diabetes insipidus; thus, it receives more news coverage. DM has two forms, referred to as type 1 diabetes (formerly called juvenile diabetes, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or IDDM) and type 2 diabetes (formerly called adult-onset diabetes, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or NIDDM). Diabetes insipidus is a different form of illness altogether.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD