DEAR DR. GOTT: Ever since I was a youngster, I’ve drank more than other kids. I’m now in my mid-40s, and it’s not uncommon for me to drink more than a gallon of liquids a day — a cup of coffee in the morning, a can of Coke during the day, and close to a gallon of water and other drinks. Almost all of it is water.
There are times now before I go to bed when my mouth gets dry and I’m thirsty. I know some of my meds do cause dry mouth. I have been tested for diabetes numerous times because the doctors want to rule it out as soon as they hear how much I drink. My blood work is always very good, and I wonder if my dry mouth is anything to be concerned about since it is a relatively new symptom.
DEAR READER: The urge to drink excessive fluids has many potential possibilities other than the diabetes your doctors are looking for. Heart, liver or kidney failure, specific drugs such as diuretics and anticholinergics, psychogenic polydipsia (excessive thirst), diabetes insipidus (a condition in which the kidneys are unable to conserve water) are but a few possibilities. I assume you have eliminated salt from you diet — both from meal preparation and adding it to foods when eating. You should also avoid canned and other foods high in sodium.
I recommend you make an appointment with your physician and request additional lab testing to possibly include a CBC with differential, serum calcium level and perhaps more based on your medical history.
