Gestational diabetes insipidus, which is also sometimes called gestational DI, is a rare condition that can happen during pregnancy, most often in the third trimester.
Being sick can make you thirsty to the point where you drink a lot of water every day. This could cause you to go to the bathroom more often than twice an hour. This is not because you are pregnant, but because you have diabetes insipidus, which is also known as “water” diabetes. It has some of the same symptoms as other types of the disease, but they are not linked.
Why does it happen?
Vasopressin is a hormone that controls how much water you hold on to. During pregnancy, the placenta can sometimes make an enzyme that breaks down vasopressin. Lack of it makes you thirsty and makes you go to the bathroom a lot. Gestational diabetes can also make you lose control of your urination and wet the bed.
The illness can sometimes run in the family. In some people, it’s because of a problem with how their bodies handle thirst. And sometimes no one knows what caused it.
What Do the Signs Mean?
Most pregnant women have to go to the bathroom a lot at night because the baby is putting pressure on their bladder. That being said, if you go a lot and are very thirsty, it could be gestagenic diabetes. Some other signs are feeling sick, dizzy, and weak.
How do you figure it out?
The color of your pee will show whether it’s light and watery or thick and yellow. They might also test your blood in a lab.
How do you treat it?
The doctor may decide not to treat gestagenic DI. That means they will probably ask you to come to the office a lot. They will keep your body from holding on to too much water. Also, make sure you bring water with you so you don’t get thirsty.
Desmopressin is a form of vasopressin that was made by humans. It comes as a nose spray most of the time. This medicine helps keep pee under control. It also stops you from wetting the bed by letting your body take in water from your kidneys and handle it.
In the event that prenatal DI is caused by problems with how your body controls thirst, your doctor will suggest other ways to help you.
When should I see a doctor?
If you are expecting and have any of these signs, you should see a doctor:
- You have to go to the bathroom a lot, especially at night.
- You really want something to drink.
- You drink a lot more than you should every day.
After giving birth, most cases go away in 4 to 6 weeks. If she gets pregnant again, though, it might come back.