• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Testing for diabetes Insipidus

B

Bumble121

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
At risk of diabetes
Pronouns
She/Her
Hi,

Does anyone have this/know the process for testing? GP mentioned this but unsure what it entails. Thank you.
 
Thank you I did look at this but didn’t know if anyone had been tested so I knew what to expect. I have had a read thank you. I did have a head injury from an accident but who knows ‍♀️ It’s not something I had heard of before.
 
Bumble121 said:
Thank you I did look at this but didn’t know if anyone had been tested so I knew what to expect.
Click to expand...
Worth asking, but I don't recall anyone actually having tests (or coming back and telling us about it, anyway).

It's rarer than diabetes mellitus (and not particularly related) so not surprising you'd not have heard of it. I'm pretty sure I remember a BBC Radio 4 program on it (Inside Health, probably) but iPlayer shows nothing for insipidus.
 
My consultant recommended a couple of test to rule out type 1 and check the function of my pancreas: a c-peptide urine test after a meal and an antibody blood test
 
MarcR said:
My consultant recommended a couple of test to rule out type 1 and check the function of my pancreas: a c-peptide urine test after a meal and an antibody blood test
Click to expand...
None of these are tests for diabetes insipidus as that has nothing to do with the pancreas
 
Bumble121 said:
Thank you I did look at this but didn’t know if anyone had been tested so I knew what to expect. I have had a read thank you. I did have a head injury from an accident but who knows ‍♀️ It’s not something I had heard of before.
Click to expand...

My friend was tested for diabetes insipidus after developing an enormous and constant thirst. They ruled out diabetes mellitus as their blood sugar was normal. I know they had initial tests for diabetes insipidus done, but I’m not sure if these were blood tests, urine tests or both. If I remember correctly, they were looking for a particular hormone. If these tests had been positive, further tests might have been done, but, as it happens, the initial tests showed it wasn’t diabetes insipidus.

Not sure if that helps you much @Bumble121 but it’s the only person I know of.
 
Thank you. My hba1c was ok after a few random high blood sugars. I have high urine output and extreme thirst (so I guess high urine output makes sense). Even when I try not to drink I feel like I’m dehydrated it’s hard to describe. I’m so fatigued. I don’t know what is wrong but hopefully they will get to the bottom of it.

I had a serious head injury from a car accident as a child but would have expected to have had life long issues (I read about head injuries being one of the causes). I guess it’s a wait and see. I have an array of blood tests and a referral for the endocrinologist. If I find out more I’ll update incase it’s helpful for others 🙂
 
Bumble121 said:
It all sounds rather complicated.
Click to expand...
Yes, it sounds like it's not nearly as easy to test for as diabetes mellitus. Though once you know you have diabetes mellitus, finding out what kind can be tricky. (Well, gestational diabetes is usually reasonably straightforward, I guess.)
 
I guess it’s down to the endocrinologist if they test at all. No doubt it will be another long waiting list feel like I can’t really do anything at the moment until it’s sorted.
 
Bruce Stephens said:
Yes, it sounds like it's not nearly as easy to test for as diabetes mellitus. Though once you know you have diabetes mellitus, finding out what kind can be tricky. (Well, gestational diabetes is usually reasonably straightforward, I guess.)
Click to expand...

In fact, gestational diabetes isn’t always straightforward. I know three women diagnosed with GD who actually had Type 1. It’s not uncommon for Type 1 to come on during pregnancy.

Good luck @Bumble121 My friend quite literally couldn’t be without a drink. They had a large mug of water with them all day, constantly being refilled, hence the suspicion of diabetes insipidus.
 
Bruce Stephens said:
Well, gestational diabetes is usually reasonably straightforward, I guess
Click to expand...
Think gestational is the most complicated! At least when you’re not pregnant that’s one potential type ruled out! When pregnant and get diabetes there’s so much extra potential for misdiagnosis as gestation if really it’s T1, T2, T3, etc
 
Bumble121 said:
Not just thinking and also drinking
Click to expand...
The problem with excessive drinking water is your electrolyte balance get upset so hopefully you will get an early appointment. If you can afford it it may be worth a private appointment with a specialist, initial consultation is likely to be about £200-250 but usually within a few days. That often leads into the NHS system more quickly.
 
Lucyr said:
When pregnant and get diabetes there’s so much extra potential for misdiagnosis as gestation if really it’s T1, T2, T3, etc
Click to expand...
Of course, yet, but that question happens later, doesn't it? Isn't it "gestational diabetes" until after the pregnancy?
 
Bruce Stephens said:
Of course, yet, but that question happens later, doesn't it? Isn't it "gestational diabetes" until after the pregnancy?
Click to expand...

No, is the short answer to that @Bruce Stephens If you develop Type 1 diabetes and you happen to be pregnant, it’s still Type 1, just like if you already have Type 1 and get pregnant, your type doesn’t suddenly change to gestational.

As I said above, Type 1 can be missed if it develops during pregnancy and be mistakenly thought to be GD. However, if the mistake is discovered, it’s then reclassified as Type 1.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top