Glucose in Urine Test
A glucose in urine test measures the amount of glucose in your urine (pee).
A glucose in urine test measures the amount of glucose in your urine (pee). Glucose is a type of sugar. It is your body's main source of energy. Glucose comes from the food you eat. Your body breaks down most of that food into glucose and releases it into your bloodstream. Your blood carries glucose to your cells for energy. Normally, urine contains very little or no glucose. That's because your kidneys hold on to glucose and send it back to your bloodstream instead of flushing it out of your body in urine. If you have more glucose than normal in your urine, it could mean that you have: Too much glucose in your blood, which could be a sign of diabetes . Diabetes is the most common cause of high urine glucose levels. A rare kidney condition that causes your kidneys to remove glucose from your blood even when your blood glucose levels are normal. These conditions include: Renal glycosuria, a genetic condition that is inherited (passed down through families) Fanconi syndrome, a genetic condition you can inherit or develop later in life (Fanconi syndrome is not related to Fanconi anemia ) If your urine glucose levels are high, your health care provider will usually order a blood glucose test to help make a diagnosis. Other names: urine sugar test; urine glucose test; glucosuria test; glycosuria test
Why is this test ordered? You may have a glucose in urine test as part of your routine checkup . You may also need this test if you have symptoms of diabetes or need to monitor your diabetes, but you are unable to have a blood glucose test. Symptoms of diabetes include: Increased thirst and urination Increased hunger Fatigue Blurred vision Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet Sores that don't heal Losing weight without trying If you are pregnant, you will likely have a glucose in urine test as part of a urinalysis to check your health. Some glucose in urine is common during pregnancy. But high levels over time could be a sign of gestational diabetes , which is a type of diabetes that happens only during pregnancy . You may need a glucose in urine test if your provider thinks you could have an uncommon kidney problem that affects how your kidneys filter glucose in blood. These conditions don't always cause symptoms. Your provider may want to test you because you have a family history of one of these conditions.
Clinical Interpretation
If your test result is normal , it means that you had little to no glucose in your urine. But this doesn't mean that you don't have diabetes. You can have a normal urine glucose level when your blood glucose level is high. If your test result shows you have too much glucose in your urine , it may be a sign of: Diabetes (If you have already been diagnosed with diabetes, high urine glucose may mean that your diabetes is not well controlled) Pregnancy Gestational diabetes An uncommon type of kidney disorder A urine glucose test alone cannot diagnose any conditions. So, if you have an abnormal test result, your provider may order other tests to help make a diagnosis, including blood tests to diagnose or rule out diabetes . Too much urine glucose doesn't always mean you have a medical condition that needs treatment. Certain medicines, vitamin C, and eating a large meal may affect your test results. Ask your provider what your test results mean and whether you need a blood glucose test for more accurate results. Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results .
Clinical Protocol & Patient Advice
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You usually don't need any special preparations for this test. Some medicines and supplements may affect your test results, so be sure to tell your provider about everything you're taking. But don't stop taking any medicine without talking with your provider first.
Usage Guidance
- Reference ranges vary by laboratory. Always discuss your specific results with a qualified healthcare professional.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. View the original.