A patient with diabetes insipidus (DI) is unable to concentrate the urine, resulting in polyuria. The patient is at risk for dehydration under certain circumstances.
Risk factors for dehydration:
(1) severity of the diabetes insipidus and polyuria
(2) limited access to fluids or fluid restriction (as before surgery)
(3) unconsciousness, sedation or sleep (a patient with severe nephrogenic DI may need to be periodically woken to drink water and to urinate)
(4) fever
(5) diarrhea
(6) excessive vomiting
(7) illness with decreased fluid intake
(8) exertion or high environmental temperatures with excessive sweating
A patient with DI who becomes dehydrated is at risk for hypernatremia
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