What is central (neurogenic) diabetes insipidus?
Central diabetes insipidus is caused by a lack of the hormone vasopressin. Vasopressin is an antidiuretic hormone that is produced by the hypothalamus gland in the brain and stored by the pituitary gland. In the body, vasopressin limits urine output by increasing the concentration of the urine. Without vasopressin, the kidneys cannot function properly and the body experiences rapid water loss in the form of diluted urine. Then in a vicious cycle, this rapid water loss causes people with central DI to become extremely thirsty. As a result, they drink large amounts of water. For example, someone with central diabetes insipidus may produce more than 3 liters of urine a day, and drink even more water than that. Central DI affects both men and women equally. It is a relatively uncommon disease, occurring in about 1 out of every 25,000 people. Central diabetes insipidus is typically a manageable disease and not fatal. However, if the fluids that are lost due to central DI aren’t replaced, se
