Diabetes Insipidus is characterized by:

Diabetes Insipidus is a condition characterized by the body’s inability to concentrate urine due to a deficiency of the hormone antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also known as vasopressin, or a lack of response to it. This results in the production of large volumes of dilute urine, hence the characteristic significant polyuria.

In Diabetes Insipidus, individuals can excrete anywhere from 3 to 20 liters of urine per day, which is markedly higher than the normal output of 1 to 2 liters. The urine produced is typically very dilute, meaning it has a low specific gravity and is light in color. This contrasts with other conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, where high glucose levels lead to a different type of polyuria where the urine may be more concentrated due to glucose presence.

Understanding the mechanics of the kidneys and how ADH functions to regulate water balance is critical in identifying Diabetes Insipidus. When ADH is either not produced in sufficient amounts (as in central Diabetes Insipidus) or when the kidneys fail to respond to it (as in nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus), the ability to reabsorb water is impaired, leading to the hallmark symptom of large quantities of dilute urine.