Diabetes insipidus

Diabetes Insipidus (DI) is a disease characterized by the inability of the kidneys to generate concentrated urine. It is not to be confused with Diabetes mellitus. The disorder is caused by a deficiency in the peptide hormone Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) secreted from the posterior pituitary gland (central DI), or the inability of the kidneys to respond to this hormone (nephrogenic DI). The former is much more common and usually arises after trauma that injures the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland itself. A consequence of this disease is increased thirst and excretion of dilute urine. It is generally treated with synthetic ADH or specific diuretics.