Written by Test for Diabetes Insipidus
A test for diabetes insipidus reveals a hormonal disruption, where the body produces less anti-diuretic hormone than is needed in the body.
Diabetes Insipidus occurs when the kidneys can no longer retain water.
It can also occur when ADH is produced in high amounts but the kidneys fail to process it as appropriate.
Diabetes Insipidus is quite different from Type 1 or even Type 11 diabetes, and takes one of four forms: central diabetes insipidus, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, dipsogenic diabetes insipidus and gestational diabetes insipidus.
The only way to diagnose this condition is by running a test for diabetes.
Unfortunately, one test for diabetes may not be enough to accurately diagnose the condition. The doctor will probably perform several tests to rule out other diseases. Most diabetes insipidus symptoms may signify an underlying problem.
They can also be triggered by other conditions. The first thing the doctor will do when carrying out diagnosis procedures is rule out the existence of another condition in the patient.
When they have ascertained that the patient is indeed suffering from diabetes insipidus, they will carry out more tests to identify the type of diabetes insipidus they are dealing with.
Test for Diabetes Insipidus
test for diabetes (Pic: Dailymail)
The first test for diabetes insipidus that the doctor will carry out is known as the water deprivation test. This is more or less the standard test for diabetes insipidus. The test involves depriving the patient water for a given period of time, usually between 4 and 18 hours.
Throughout the duration of the test, urine osmolality and body weight measurements are taken on an hourly basis. The test is done to establish how urine osmolality changes in relation to water deprivation in the body.
If the patient has partial diabetes insipidus, the urine osmolality will increase to between 400 and 500 mmol/kg following water deprivation.
Normal levels for a healthy individual are 1000 to 12000 mmol/kg. If the patient has severe or complete diabetes insipidus, urine osmolality will be 200 mmol/kg or less, which is way below the normal range.
Urinalysis is another test for diabetes insipidus that is based on urine concentration. When salt and waste concentration is lower than the water concentration in your urine, it is a sign that you could be suffering from diabetes insipidus.
This test is normally carried out in combination with either genetic screening or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Genetic screening is done when there are suspicions that you could have inherited the condition from your lineage.
The MRI test for diabetes insipidus checks for abnormalities in and around the pituitary gland, which are likely to cause the condition.
Your doctor will know which test for diabetes insipidus to carry out, depending on the signs and symptoms you present. The condition is highly treatable and should not be cause for alarm.
Excessive urination and excessive thirst are the two most common symptoms of diabetes insipidus but doctors will look for additional symptoms. Following positive diagnosis of diabetes insipidus, the doctor will carry out the appropriate test for diabetes, and treatment.
