Question

Lisa is diagnosed with diabetes insipidus. Her son is worried because he knows diabetes is dangerous. He asks if his mother will have to follow a a diabetic diet? why or why not? please explain thoroughly

is diabetes insipidus life threatening? explain

background info: lisa was brought into ER for flu and loss of consciousness. rapid breathing, fever, dry and flaccid skin, dry mucuous membranes, sunken eyes. urine negative for glucose and ketones but excess water loss in urine.

Answer 1

Diabetes insipidus is a hormonal disease either due to deficient production of Anti-diuretic hormone otherwise called as Vasopressin by the hypothalamus of CNS or unresponsiveness of renal tubules to ADH. Anti diuretic hormone helps to retain ultrafiltrated water by enhancing it's reabsorption in the renal tubules. Due to deficiency of ADH or unresponsiveness of nephric tubules to ADH results in unchecked excretion of urine(polyuria) which ultimately leads to increased thirst(polydypsia),loss of consciousness,rapid breathing and other sequalae.

• It is not due deficiency of insulin thus not related to glucose metabolism.So,the patient with diabetes insipidus doesnot have to follow a diabetic diet.
• If the patient has an intact thirst mechanism ,is conscious and has access to oral fluids,then the patient can maintain adequate fluid intake.However, in an unconscious patient or a patient with damage to the hypothalamic thirst centre, diabetes insipidus is potentially lethal.