Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment Of Diabetes Insipidus

Treatment With Hormones

Individuals affected by the central form of diabetes insipidus may require treatment with hormones when other treatment methods are unable to manage the disorder effectively. Desmopressin is a lab-created hormone that mimics the naturally occurring vasopressin hormone in healthy individuals. Those affected by hormone deficiency precipitated diabetes insipidus can take desmopressin to help replace the deficient or missing vasopressin in their bodies. Desmopressin is available in several different forms, including injections, oral tablets, or nasal sprays. This synthetic form of vasopressin helps reduce the amount of urine output from the patient's kidneys. Because the bodies of diabetes insipidus patients make varying but small amounts of natural vasopressin, each individual may need to take differing amounts of desmopressin to meet their goal of proper water balance. The general goal for patients taking desmopressin is an output of around two liters of urine every twenty-four hours. Desmopressin is taken on average between one and three times daily to achieve this goal.