Q. What is the difference between diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus? What are the characteristic signs of diabetes insipidus?
Diabetes mellitus is the disease caused by deficient insulin secretion by impaired capturing or by the pancreas of this hormone by the cells and Diabetes insipidus is the disease caused by deficient ADH secretion by the pituitary (hypophysis) or also by impaired sensitivity of the kidneys to this hormone.
In diabetes insipidus the blood lacks ADH and so a great volume of urine is produced and tubular resorption of water in the kidneys is reduced. The patient urinates a lot and many times a day a sign also accompanied by polydipsia (increased exaggerated ingestion of water and thirst) and sometimes by dehydration.