Frequent urination is a common symptom of diabetes, caused by the kidneys’ inability to handle excess glucose in the blood. Diabetes insipidus, a rare condition unrelated to type 1 or type 2 diabetes, can also cause frequent urination due to an inability to make or use antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Treatment for both types of diabetes can help regulate blood sugar and reduce the urge to urinate. Synthetic hormone replacement or dietary changes may help manage diabetes insipidus.
A frequent need to urinate is often the first indication that an individual has diabetes. In the more familiar forms of this disease, known as types 1 and type 2, the link between diabetes and frequent urination is due to the inability of the kidneys to handle the excess glucose in the blood. Here, the urge to urinate is usually controlled by blood sugar regulation. An unrelated and much less common condition known as diabetes insipidus is also characterized by frequent urination. In this case, however, the urge to urinate is due to the body’s inability to make or use a protein called antidiuretic hormone (ADH), and it can often be managed with synthetic hormones or dietary changes.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes impair the body’s ability to make or use insulin, the hormone that normally helps channel glucose from the blood to cells. As a result, blood may contain abnormally high amounts of glucose. Unable to absorb this high amount of glucose, the kidneys instead produce large volumes of glucose-rich urine, thus explaining the link between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes and frequent urination.
Without treatment, repeated urination can disrupt work or school productivity and sleep and lead to perpetual thirst or even dehydration. Fortunately, it’s often possible to break the link between these types of diabetes and frequent urination. Because the recurring urge to urinate is a symptom of high blood sugar, it usually lessens when steps are taken to regulate or prevent blood sugar imbalances. This may include testing your blood sugar levels regularly, taking insulin as directed by a doctor, or following a controlled diet.
Diabetes insipidus — a rare condition that, despite its name, is not related to type 1 or type 2 diabetes — is also characterized by a persistent need to urinate. The link between this type of diabetes and frequent urination is due to an inability to make or use ADH, the protein that normally helps the kidneys control the body’s fluid balance. When ADH is used improperly or absent, any fluids consumed are rapidly excreted as urine.
As with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, frequent urination associated with diabetes insipidus can lead to unquenchable thirst and severe dehydration. Fortunately, this condition is often manageable. Diabetes insipidus sufferers whose bodies are unable to produce ADH may be able to curb urination by taking a synthetic hormone replacement. Those whose kidneys are unable to process ADH generally cannot process this replacement hormone either. They may, however, be able to limit urine output by reducing salt intake.
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