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Polyuria
- >3L/day urine production adults
- >2L/day urine production children
To understand polyuria we must understand the way the kidney functions. The kidney plays a key roll in homeostasis of the body. Each kidney has up to 1 million nephrons, which are microscopic units responsible for filtering and reabsorbing different types of molecules. During the first phase of filtration, useful molecules such as glucose, amino acids, and certain ions are added to the urine. These molecules are then reabsorbed and pulled back into extracellular fluid. In a normal functioning kidney of a patient without hyperglycemia, 100% of glucose is reabsorbed by the kidney. In patients with increased blood sugars the kidney is not able to reabsorb all glucose. The extra glucose results in a hyperosmolar urine, which in turn pulls more free fluid from the extracellular space, causing an osmotic diuresis. [22]
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