Which finding is commonly seen in diabetes insipidus?

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Multiple Choice

Which finding is commonly seen in diabetes insipidus?

Explanation:
Diabetes insipidus causes a free-water deficit because ADH isn’t able to promote water reabsorption in the kidneys. The result is very dilute, large-volume urine and a rise in serum osmolality. If fluid intake doesn’t keep up, this increased osmolality concentrates serum sodium, leading to hypernatremia. Hyponatremia would suggest excess water or SIADH, not DI, and hypokalemia or hypercalcemia aren’t characteristic findings of DI. So hypernatremia is the typical finding.

Diabetes insipidus causes a free-water deficit because ADH isn’t able to promote water reabsorption in the kidneys. The result is very dilute, large-volume urine and a rise in serum osmolality. If fluid intake doesn’t keep up, this increased osmolality concentrates serum sodium, leading to hypernatremia. Hyponatremia would suggest excess water or SIADH, not DI, and hypokalemia or hypercalcemia aren’t characteristic findings of DI. So hypernatremia is the typical finding.

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