What are the types of diabetes insipidus?

What are the types of diabetes insipidus?

There are four types of diabetes insipidus:

• Central diabetes insipidus, the most common form, happens when the brain doesn’t release enough ADH. This can be caused by damage to the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus, a section of the brain near the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus produces ADH and other hormones and controls their release. There are many possible causes of this damage, including an inherited defect in a gene, surgery or injury involving the head, tumors, and infections.
• Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus happens when there is enough ADH, but the kidneys don’t respond to it properly and can’t retain the water. This can be caused by a reaction to a medication, often lithium. It can also be caused by a defect in the genes, a high level of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), or kidney disease.
• Dipsogenic diabetes insipidus is not related to ADH, and is caused by drinking too much fluid. It occurs when the mechanism that makes a person feel thirsty is damaged, so the person feels thirsty even when fluid isn’t needed. It can be caused by damage to the hypothalamus or by mental illness.
• Gestational diabetes insipidus affects pregnant women. It is caused by enzymes made by the placenta, a temporary organ that provides nourishment to the fetus. Sometimes these enzymes interfere with the kidneys’ ability to process ADH. Gestational diabetes insipidus usually goes away shortly after the pregnancy is over.