Frequent urination

Frequent urination (urinary frequency) is a clinical symptom, not a diagnosis. The first split: is the urine volume actually high (polyuria, >3 L/24h) or is it the same volume passed more often (frequency without polyuria)? Polyuria points strongly to diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, hypercalcaemia, lithium use or primary polydipsia. Frequency without high volume points to urinary tract infection, overactive bladder, benign prostatic enlargement in men, pregnancy, or anxiety. Night-time frequency (nocturia) deserves its own attention — it can signal heart failure, sleep apnoea, or evening diuretic timing.

• Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes — high glucose pulls water into the urine (osmotic diuresis); often with thirst and weight loss.
• Diabetes insipidus — pituitary or kidney failure to concentrate urine.
• Urinary tract infection — typically with burning, urgency, sometimes blood.
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia — older men, weak stream, dribbling.
• Diuretic medications — including coffee and alcohol.
• Overactive bladder — neurological or idiopathic.
• Pregnancy — hormonal + uterine pressure on bladder.
• Hypercalcaemia — from hyperparathyroidism, sarcoidosis, malignancy.
• Heart failure (nocturia) — fluid redistribution at night.

First-line: fasting glucose and HbA1c (diabetes), urinalysis (UTI, glycosuria), comprehensive metabolic (sodium, potassium, calcium, creatinine, eGFR), TSH, urine specific gravity if polyuria is suspected. If diabetes insipidus is plausible, a supervised water-deprivation test in hospital. PSA and prostate exam in men >50 with obstructive symptoms. Mediora.AI flags the diabetes pattern (high glucose + HbA1c) directly inside your report.