Question

Patients with uncontrolled diabetes experience polyuria because:

1) they drink excess amounts of water due to dehydration.
2) excess glucose in the blood is excreted by the kidneys.
3) low blood glucose levels result in cellular dehydration.
4) high blood sugar levels cause permanent kidney damage.

Answer 1

Polyuria in patients with uncontrolled diabetes occurs because the kidneys excrete excess glucose in the blood, which in turn pulls more water into the urine, leading to higher urine volume.

Step-by-step explanation:

Patients with uncontrolled diabetes experience polyuria primarily because excess glucose in the blood is excreted by the kidneys. When blood glucose levels are high, the kidneys cannot reabsorb all the glucose, leading it to appear in the urine. This osmotic effect pulls more water into the urine, resulting in the production of a larger volume of urine. This condition is part of the body's attempt to rid itself of extra glucose, which, over time, could also lead to dehydration as the patient loses more fluid than normal. Therefore, while patients may indeed drink more water due to the sensation of thirst from dehydration, the primary cause of polyuria in uncontrolled diabetes is the body's effort to excrete high levels of glucose.