Chapter 11: Endocrine System

Two major symptoms of diabetes:

Polyuria

Polydipsia

Rebecca Ray

Causes of Polyuria

There are many possible causes of polyuria, or increased urine production. The most common cause is diabetes mellitus or diabetes insipidus. Just to name some other causes: Drugs (diuretics, e.g. Lasix), almost any kind of kidney failure, pregnancy, cold exposure, congestive heart failure, Cushing’s, Addison’s, liver disease, and simply drinking too much water.

Here is a flow chart demonstrating the diagnosis of polyuria and how to find a cause.

The boxes in red should only be performed by a medical professional, preferably under observation.

Causes of Polydipsia

There are fewer causes of polydipsia than of polyuria, but when they are present together, the first thing a doctor will do is check glucose levels in order to diagnose or rule out diabetes.

Other possible causes include: electrolyte imbalance, decrease in blood volume, or a disruption of osmotic equilibrium.

Some mental illnesses may cause people to drink liquid regardless of thirst, and people with developmental problems or dementia may simply forget or not be able to keep track of their water intake.

There really is such a thing as too much water, and it can be fatal.

This picture portrays the major symptoms of diabetes: polyuria and nocturia, polydipsia,

frequent infections (often yeast or fungus), fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and blurred vision.