What are typical signs of diabetes insipidus?

• A. Polyuria and polydipsia with dilute urine
• B. Polyphagia and weight gain
• C. Edema and hypoalbuminemia
• D. Fever and night sweats

Answer: (A)

Diabetes insipidus presents with the kidneys failing to concentrate urine due to a lack of antidiuretic hormone or the kidneys not responding to it. This causes large volumes of very dilute urine and triggers increased thirst. So the hallmark signs are polyuria (lots of urine) and polydipsia (drinking a lot), with the urine being dilute (low specific gravity and low osmolality). If fluid intake doesn’t keep up, dehydration and potential hypernatremia can develop.

The other options don’t fit this pattern: polyphagia and weight gain are more typical of insulin-related diabetes mellitus; edema with hypoalbuminemia suggests nephrotic or hepatic issues; fever and night sweats point toward infection or inflammatory processes.