For this German, hydration is a daily challenge. Mark Wübbenhorst is a 35-year-old architect with a rare disease, diabetes insipidus. It is a metabolic disease where the kidneys eliminate water in disproportionate quantities, between 4 and 10L per day, sometimes even beyond.
While the recommended daily intake of water for a healthy adult through drink and food is on average 2 to 3L, on a daily basis, Mark Wübbenhorst must consume 20L. It is imperative for him to rehydrate every 60 minutes or risk suffering from severe dehydration which can prove fatal, as the man told the German magazine Neue Westfälische.
A complicated daily life
He also feels the need to relieve himself up to 50 times in the same day. This condition notably affects the quality of his sleep. Mark Wübbenhorst has never slept for more than two consecutive hours, as he is constantly woken up by thirst and an urge to go to the toilet.
The architect’s mother also suffered from this disease. Like her, he had to learn to live with it. He cannot go on long trips or practice certain sports. At school it was sometimes difficult and it is also very tiring. But the young man remains optimistic. He is involved in his town of Bielefeld and applies his grandparents’ motto every day: “You always have to get the best out of everything”.
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