18 years
I drink 2 litres of water everyday .. I'm always thirsty and when I am, I feel tired and feel the need to drink immediately.. something's wrong? Glucose in my blood is normal btw
Aug 13, 2014
If however you are also complaining of frequent urination, and you are passing large amounts of urine and feeling thirsty, then the diagnosis f diabetes insipidus should be ruled out. Diabetes insipidus is characterized by frequent passing large amounts of pale, almost clear urine every 15-20 minutes. It is associated with a constant feel of thirst feel and a 'dry' feeling that's always present, no matter how much water you drink. Passing urine so frequently and drinking so much water will disturb the electrolyte balance in your body (the blood will sort of become diluted), so you feel fatigued or lethargic, and your muscles will ache.
Diabetes insipidus is is dur to trouble in a hormone called antidiuretic hormone (ADH), or its receptor (where it attaches to produce its effect). ADH is produced in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus and stored in the pituitary gland, a small gland beneath the brain. ADH acts on the kidneys to make them hold onto water, which makes urine more concentrated. Under normal circumstances, when you get thirsty or slightly dehydrated, ADH levels rise; the kidneys respond by taking up more water and excrete concentrated urine. If however you drink large amounts of water at once, ADH levels would fall, and dilute urine goes out.
Diabetes insipidus can be caused by one of two problems:
-ADH is produced in insufficient amounts by the hypothalamus: this is known as central diabetes insipidus (central = in the brain)
-Enough ADH produced, but the kidneys can't respond to it. That condition is known as nephrogenic (kidney related) diabetes insipidus.
In either form of the diease, the kidneys can't hold on to water, so even with dehydration they continue to excrete abundant, dilute urine.
To make the diagnosis of diabetes insipidus, serial measurements of blood and urine over several hours should be performed. During test time, you should stop drinking water to get progressively thirstier. The concentrations of sodium in the blood and urine are measured over time. An ADH substitute might then be administered to see if the person's kidneys respond to it by concentrating the urine. The laboratory values and response to ADH can make the diagnosis.
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