Polyuria / urinary frequency

Frequent urination — going more than 7-8 times during waking hours, or waking more than once at night to urinate (nocturia) — is a symptom we evaluate routinely. The first question is: is the actual urine volume increased (polyuria, you're making a lot of urine), or is the volume normal but the urge is increased (frequency, often from infection or prostate)?

Common causes

• Diabetes mellitus — high blood sugar spills into the urine and pulls water with it. Often the first symptom of new-onset diabetes, along with thirst and fatigue.
• Urinary tract infection (UTI) — frequency + burning + urgency, often with low-grade fever or back pain. Common in women; in men or with fever it can suggest involvement of the prostate or kidneys.
• Prostate enlargement (BPH) — in older men, particularly nocturia, weak stream, dribbling.
• Diabetes insipidus — rare; massive thirst + massive urine output. Usually a pituitary problem.
• Diuretic medication — especially if recently started for BP or heart failure.
• Overactive bladder — frequent urge, sometimes with leakage, no infection or diabetes.
• High calcium levels — uncommon but worth a calcium test if other symptoms fit.

Standard workup

For any new frequent urination at Asian Hospital we do: fasting blood sugar (or random) + HbA1c, urine routine and culture, creatinine, electrolytes including calcium. For older men we add prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and an ultrasound. This single panel answers the question in 90% of cases.

Total cost: ~₹1,500-2,200 depending on which tests are added.