We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is the Connection between Diabetes and Polyuria?

By H. Colledge
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 20,485
Share

Polyuria is a condition in which the body produces unusually large volumes of urine at abnormally frequent intervals. Diabetes and polyuria are linked because polyuria is one of the main symptoms of diabetes. While it is also associated with other medical problems, polyuria is a symptom of both diabetes mellitus and the lesser known, and quite different, diabetes insipidus. Polyuria occurs in both forms of diabetes mellitus, Types 1 and 2. If any of the varieties of diabetes are left untreated, polyuria can lead to severe dehydration, which could be serious in frail or elderly patients.

In diabetes mellitus, the level of sugar in the blood is too high. Normally, when the kidneys filter blood to make urine, they reabsorb all of the sugar, returning it to the blood stream. The sugar levels associated with diabetes mellitus are so high that they overwhelm the kidneys' ability to reabsorb it, with the result that sugar ends up in the urine. This sugar draws more water into the urine and that is how the large urine volumes seen in diabetes and polyuria occur.

The mechanism that causes polyuria in diabetes insipidus is different. Here, the problem does not concern blood sugar levels. Instead, there is an abnormality regarding the hormone which acts on the kidneys to make them preserve water in the body.

This water-conserving hormone is produced and stored in the brain. Some forms of brain damage, which could be caused by disease or accidental injury, can reduce the amount of hormone available. As a result, the kidneys fail to conserve water, allowing large amounts to pass out of the body in the form of very dilute urine. Another form of diabetes insipidus develops because the kidneys do not respond to the hormone. This can be inherited or it may result from kidney damage, sometimes caused by certain drugs.

Along with polyuria, one of the other signs of diabetes can be an extreme thirst, known as polydipsia. The two conditions often occur together and may be associated with dehydration. If a patient is excessively dehydrated, treating diabetes and polyuria may involve admission to the hospital so that fluids can be given. Otherwise, management of both diabetes and polyuria involves giving the appropriate treatment for the specific type of diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus Type 1 is generally treated with insulin, which enables sugar to be taken up out of the blood stream into cells. Type 2 can often be controlled by making dietary changes and exercising more, although medication is required in some cases. Diabetes insipidus may be managed by giving an artificial version of the missing hormone if appropriate, or by giving other medications.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-the-connection-between-diabetes-and-polyuria.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.