How Is Diabetes Insipidus Inherited
Diabetes Insipidus (DI) is a failure of the kidneys to conserve water along with the production of copious amounts of dilute (insipid) urine, leading to dehydration and a persistent cycle of thirst, water drinking and frequent urination. This is to be differentiated from Diabetes Mellitus (DM), where the problem is an overflow of sugar into the urine from a high blood sugar concentration, overwhelming the kidneys and pulling water along with the formation of copious amounts of “sweet” urine. A simple urine test usually differentiates the two syndromes. Water absorption in the kidneys take place in an area called the distal tubules under the control of the anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) called arginine vasopressin. This hormone is secreted by the thalamic region of the brain and stored in the posterior part of the pituitary gland in the brain for release. Its release is influenced by drastic drops in blood volume, as in a major hemorrhage, or by small changes in the concentration of blood
