Final answer:
In gestational diabetes, there is an increase in urine output due to the kidneys filtering excess blood glucose, differing from diabetes insipidus, where urine is generally diluted and lacks glucose.
Step-by-step explanation:
In gestational diabetes, the client experiences an increase in urine output. This is due to the kidneys' response to excess glucose in the bloodstream, where they function to filter out the glucose and consequently draw water into the urine. As a result, urine volume increases, which can also influence the specific gravity of the urine. While the specific gravity typically is inversely proportional to urine volume, diabetes mellitus is an exception, showing increased urine volume with increased specific gravity.
In contrast to diabetes insipidus, which also causes increased urine volume, gestational diabetes urine would contain glucose due to the high blood glucose levels that are not being sufficiently absorbed by body cells. This contrasts with the urine in diabetes insipidus, which is usually diluted and lacks glucose. Consuming large amounts of water can lead to increased urine output within as soon as 30 minutes, while substances like alcohol can cause an increase in urine output because alcohol inhibits ADH (anti-diuretic hormone) release.