What Causes Polydipsia?

Diabetes Mellitus Or Insipidus

Polydipsia is often a symptom of diabetes mellitus or insipidus. Diabetes mellitus is a very common disease and millions of Americans have it. There are actually two different types of diabetes mellitus: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the pancreas, mistaking it for a foreign substance, and prevents the pancreas from making insulin. Type 2 diabetes is a lot more common than type 1. Type 2 is usually diagnosed in adults, while type 1 is more commonly found in children. Both types of diabetes mellitus have polydipsia as a symptom, and so does diabetes insipidus. Diabetes insipidus is a much less common illness than diabetes mellitus. In diabetes insipidus, the body has a difficult time regulating fluid in the body. This is caused by a lack of anti-diuretic hormone. As a result, one of the main symptoms of this type of diabetes is excessive thirst.

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Consuming Lots Of Vitamin D Or Salt

Consuming lots of vitamin D or salt can sometimes lead to polydipsia as well. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that helps keep the bones and immune system healthy. However, it is possible to have too much of it. Hypervitaminosis D is a condition caused by having so much vitamin D in the body that it becomes toxic. Polydipsia is one of the symptoms of this, along with hypertension and nausea.

Consuming too much salt can also make an individual excessively thirsty. This is because when the blood concentration of salt gets too high, the body sends signals to the brain that the blood needs to be diluted, leading to feelings of thirst. Excessive thirst can occur if someone eats too much salty food, and because of this, along with many other reasons, it is a good idea to avoid consuming too much sodium.

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