The two main symptoms of diabetes insipidus are:
- needing to pass large amounts of urine often
- feeling thirsty all the time
These and other symptoms you may experience if you have diabetes insipidus are outlined below.
Passing excess urine
You may pass pale, watery urine as often as every 15-20 minutes. The amount of urine passed can range from 2.5 litres (4.4 pints) in mild cases to up to 15 litres (26 pints) in severe cases.
Constant thirst
You may be constantly thirsty and have a 'dry' feeling that is always present, no matter how much water you drink.
Trouble sleeping and carrying out daily activities
If you need to pass urine often and always feel thirsty, your sleeping patterns and daily activities may be disrupted as a result. This can cause tiredness, irritability and difficulty concentrating, which can affect your daily life further.
Generally feeling unwell
If you have diabetes insipidus, you may feel generally unwell and 'run down' much of the time for no apparent reason.
Additional symptoms in children
In very young children who are unable to speak, it may be difficult to realise that they are excessively thirsty. Signs and symptoms that could suggest diabetes insipidus include:
- excessive crying
- irritability
- slower than expected growth
- high body temperature (hyperthermia)
- unexplained weight loss
In older children, symptoms of diabetes insipidus include:
- wetting the bed
- loss of appetite
- fatigue
