"Supporting education, research, treatment and cure for Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus."
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make sure anyone can recognize ndi in an emergency
In an emergency — an accident, surgery, or hospitalization — nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI / AVP-R) requires very specific management that differs from other conditions, and it is easily mistaken for diabetes mellitus or simple dehydration. Misidentification can delay critical treatment.
There are two simple ways to make sure responders understand the diagnosis: a printed medical alert card to carry, and your phone’s built-in Medical ID. They work best together. Set up both — each covers situations the other can’t.
When to use the card
People with NDI / AVP-R can become dehydrated quickly without access to water — especially during illness, travel, surgery, hospitalization, or emergency care. Carry or share the card whenever the patient may be away from their regular caregiver or medical team, including:
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Emergency room visits
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Hospital admissions
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Surgery or procedures requiring fasting
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School, camp, daycare, or travel
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Illness with vomiting, fever, diarrhea, or reduced water intake
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Any situation where access to water may be restricted
Printed medical alert card
Anyone with NDI / AVP-R should carry a printed medical alert card at all times. In an emergency, it tells responders exactly what to do — even if no phone is available. Our cards were developed with physicians on the NDIF Scientific Review Board and are available below in English, Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, German, Japanese, and Russian. Download the card in your language, print it at wallet size, and keep copies where they can be found quickly.
How to use the card
Download the card in your preferred language, print it, and keep copies where they can be found quickly:
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Wallet or phone case
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School or daycare file
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Travel bag
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Emergency binder
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Hospital go-bag
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With caregivers, relatives, coaches, or camp staff
Before using the card, families may also want to write in the patient’s physician, emergency contact, medications, allergies, and any individualized care instructions.
Note: These cards help communicate important NDI / AVP-R information in urgent or unfamiliar care settings. They do not replace individualized medical advice from the patient’s care team.
Click the arrow and print 3.38 × 2.13 inches for wallet size.
Your Phone's Medical ID App
Most of us carry a phone everywhere we go. Both iPhone and Android can display critical health information on the lock screen, where a responder can see it without unlocking the phone. Setting this up takes a few minutes and costs nothing. Whichever phone you have, the most important step is turning on lock-screen visibility — without it, the information stays hidden. Enter NDI / AVP-R as the condition so responders can recognize it either way.
On an iPhone
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Open the Health app (white icon with a red heart). It comes pre-installed.
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Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner, then tap Medical ID.
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Tap Edit. Fill in the Medical Conditions field using the NDI text in the box below, plus any allergies, medications, and emergency contacts.
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Scroll down and turn on “Show When Locked.” This is the essential step. Also turn on “Share During Emergency Call” if available in your country.
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Tap Done. To check it worked: from the locked screen, tap Emergency, then Medical ID — your information should appear.
Click here to see a setup video.
On an Android phone
Android phones vary by manufacturer, so the exact wording differs slightly, but the feature is built in on most modern phones.
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Open Settings and look for “Safety & emergency” (Pixel) or “Safety and emergency” (Samsung). On some phones it appears under “About phone → Emergency information.”
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Tap “Medical information” or “Emergency information.”
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Enter the NDI text from the box below under medical conditions, along with allergies, medications, and emergency contacts.
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Save. To check it worked: from the locked screen, tap “Emergency” (or “Emergency call”), then look for “Medical information” or “View emergency info.” If your phone doesn’t have this feature, a free app such as Medical ID can add a lock-screen card.
what to enter
Copy and paste the suggested text for the Medical Conditions field
Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus
This is a kidney disease and not Diabetes Mellitus.
MUST HAVE EASY ACCESS TO DRINKING WATER AND TOILET
In any medical situation, check and follow electrolytes and plasma osmolality.
High urinary water loss causes a water deficit — rehydrate orally with water when possible. Otherwise rehydrate intravenously with dextrose in water (e.g. D2W or D5W) or with quarter-normal saline (0.22%).
Rehydration with normal saline (0.9%) may cause seizures or even death.
Use normal saline (0.9%) only for fluid resuscitation of acute blood loss or shock, then switch to low salt solutions. Individual clinical situations differ.
Contact a Nephrologist or Endocrinologist for assistance.
A note on using both
The printed card and your phone’s Medical ID each cover something the other can’t. A phone can have a dead battery, be locked in a way a responder doesn’t check, or simply not be the device on hand — especially for a young child. A printed card never runs out of power. Setting up both takes only a few minutes and gives the people helping you the best possible chance of recognizing NDI / AVP-R and getting it right.
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