What is Diabetes Insipidus (DI) and why do we get it?
Diabetes insipidus (DI) is caused by a problem with either the production, or action of the hormone Vasopressin. If you have DI, your kidneys are unable to retain water. This leads to the production of large volumes of urine and in turn, through increased urine volume leading to increased thirst. DI can occur at any age but is mostly found in adults. It is a rare disorder, affecting only about 1 in 25,000 people. To understand DI we need to understand a little about how the body regulates water balance – the difference between how much water the body takes in and how much it passes out. Water balance is very important for the body. A large proportion of what we are is made up of water; in addition the amount of water we have in our circulation is a critical factor in determining the balance of salt in our bodies. As with any function that is important, the body has a sensitive mechanism for regulating water balance. Like any good mechanism it is also simple, involving two key component
