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Glucose in Urine

Diabetes Biomarker

Sample Needed

Collection Type: Urine

Body System

Related System: Diabetes

Overview

Glucose in urine (urinary glucose, glycosuria) measures whether sugar (glucose) is being excreted by the kidneys. Normally the kidney reabsorbs all filtered glucose so urine contains no detectable glucose. A positive urine glucose test indicates that filtered glucose exceeds renal reabsorption capacity or that tubular reabsorption is impaired. Glycosuria most commonly suggests hyperglycemia from diabetes mellitus (new or poorly controlled), but can occur with pregnancy, proximal tubular disorders, or with drugs that block renal glucose reabsorption. Symptoms prompting testing include increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, or suspected diabetes. Renal threshold and urine glucose appearance vary with age, pregnancy, renal function and some medications.

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Test Preparation

Collect a Random/Spot urine sample in a sealed and sterile screw-capped container provided by our sample collection professional
Women are advised not to give the sample during the menstrual period unless prescribed
Blood contaminated and highly turbid samples are not acceptable

Why Do I Need This Test

Profile: Diabetes (screening/monitoring) - Symptoms: polyuria, polydipsia, unexplained weight loss, fatigue - Diagnoses/monitoring: detection/screening of diabetes, monitoring glycemic control, identifying renal glycosuria or tubular dysfunction - Reasons for abnormal levels: persistent hyperglycemia, reduced renal threshold, SGLT2 inhibitor use, pregnancy, renal tubular disease - Biological meaning: glucose in urine means filtered load > reabsorption (hyperglycemia) or tubular loss - Lifestyle/factors: high carbohydrate intake, poor diabetes control, certain medications - Family history: first‑degree relatives with diabetes increases need for testing

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Understanding Test Results

Any detectable glucose in a properly collected urine sample is abnormal.
Rough interpretations: trace/low levels (small positive) may reflect transient hyperglycemia, recent high carbohydrate intake, pregnancy-associated lowered renal threshold, or early diabetes; moderate urine glucose typically indicates plasma glucose consistently above the renal threshold (commonly ≈160–180 mg/dL or ≈8.9–10.0 mmol/L) and suggests diabetes or poor control; large amounts of urine glucose correspond to marked hyperglycemia (plasma glucose often >300 mg/dL) and risk of dehydration or diabetic ketoacidosis in type 1 diabetes.
Persistent glycosuria with normal blood glucose suggests renal tubular dysfunction or effect of SGLT2 inhibitors.
Note that reagent strips detect glucose only above method-specific cutoffs and can give false negatives (high vitamin C, strong acids/ketones) or false positives (contamination, oxidizing agents); correlate with blood glucose and clinical context.

Normal Range

0 mg/dL OR 0 mmol/L (Negative)

FAQs

Q: What does it mean when you have glucose in your urine?

A: Finding glucose in urine (glucosuria) means blood sugar is high enough to spill into urine or the kidneys aren’t reabsorbing glucose properly. Causes include undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes, renal glycosuria, pregnancy, certain medications, or hormonal/stress effects. It indicates the need for blood glucose testing and medical evaluation to determine the cause and start appropriate treatment or monitoring.

Q: How to reduce glucose in urine?

A: Reduce glucose in urine by improving blood-sugar control: follow a balanced diet low in refined carbs and sugary drinks, maintain regular exercise and a healthy weight, take diabetes medicines as prescribed, and monitor blood glucose/HbA1c. Stay hydrated, treat urinary infections, and review medications (some cause glycosuria) with your healthcare provider. Seek prompt medical review if glucosuria persists.

Q: What are 5 signs of high glucose?

A: Five common signs of high blood glucose are: frequent urination, excessive thirst, increased hunger, unexplained fatigue or weakness, and blurred vision. Other possible symptoms include slow wound healing, unexplained weight loss, and tingling in hands or feet. If you notice these signs persistently, check blood sugar and seek medical advice.

Q: Is it normal to have glucose in urine with a UTI?

A: It’s not typical for urine to contain glucose with a simple UTI. Glycosuria usually reflects high blood glucose (diabetes), SGLT2‑inhibitor use, or rare renal tubular problems. A lower UTI alone generally doesn’t cause glucose in urine, though severe kidney infection or tubular damage can rarely do so. If glucosuria appears, check blood glucose and medication history and consult your clinician.

Q: What medications cause glucose in urine?

A: SGLT2 inhibitors (canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin) directly cause glucose in urine. Other drugs can cause glucosuria indirectly by raising blood sugar, including systemic corticosteroids (prednisone), some antipsychotics (olanzapine, clozapine), thiazide diuretics, beta‑2 agonists (salbutamol), and immunosuppressants (tacrolimus, cyclosporine). Glucosuria may occur when blood glucose exceeds the kidney's reabsorption threshold.

Q: Is glucose good for the kidneys?

A: Glucose itself isn’t inherently \