High sodium Assessment Questionnaire

Why: symptoms are usually non-specific but may include nausea, vomiting, fever and confusion. Seizures may occur if severely elevated sodium.

Why: can help detect excessive thirst in diabetes insipidus and also deficient water intake which are both causes of high blood sodium.

Why: e.g. previous impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glycemia test; Aboriginal and Torres strait Islanders aged 35 years and over; certain high risk non- English speaking background groups aged 35 years and over (such as Pacific Islanders, Indian subcontinent, Chinese); people aged 45 years and over who have one of more of the following risk factors including obesity with BMI of greater or equal to 30, high blood pressure or first degree relative with Type 2 diabetes; previous heart attack, angina or stroke; previous gestational diabetes; obese women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Why: e.g. hyperosmolar diabetic coma usually occurs in diabetic ho have had an intercurrent illness such as pneumonia or pyelonephritis.

Why: e.g. diabetes insipidus, Diabetes mellitus.

Why: e.g. hypothalamic-pituitary surgery is the most common cause of diabetes insipidus; pancreatectomy (removal of the pancreas) may cause secondary diabetes.

Why: e.g. some medications can cause diabetes insipidus such as lithium, glibenclamide, tetracycline, amphotericin B; some medications may precipitate hyperosmolar diabetic coma such as thiazide diuretics or steroids.

Why: e.g. frequency of urination, large quantities of urine produced, need to urinate at night, excessive thirst, dehydration.

Why: e.g. pituitary tumor, hypothalamic tumor, brain metastasis, leukemia, tuberculosis, meningitis, sarcoidosis, base of skull fracture, brain hemorrhage, renal tubular acidosis.

Why: e.g. people often present in middle or later life, often with previously undiagnosed diabetes or poorly controlled diabetes. Symptoms include dehydration, stupor, impaired consciousness or coma.