Urine Glucose Test

Your doctor may order this test if you show signs of diabetes such as:

• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Weight loss
• Sores that do not heal quickly
• Blurred vision

Urine glucose levels are regularly tested for people who are at risk of developing diabetes. The risk factors for diabetes are:

• Being obese or overweight
• Being inactive
• Having a family history of diabetes
• Having high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels

If you are 45 years or older, you should periodically get yourself tested even if the results are normal every time. Additionally, pregnant women are routinely tested for gestational diabetes throughout their gestation period. 

Glucose urine test may also be performed as a part of a routine urinalysis, a test which measures different substances that are present in the urine.

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No specific preparations are needed for this test. Inform your doctor if you are taking any prescription, non-prescription medicines or illicit drugs or supplements, as some of these may alter the results of the test.

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The test requires a sterile urine sample. It is collected in a special container. Here are some of the instructions your doctor will provide on how to collect the sample. :

• Wash your hands and clean the genital area using a cleansing pad
• Men should wipe the head of the penis  and women should open their labia and wipe the area  from front to back
• Start urinating in the toilet and after the first few drops, hold the container under the stream of urine
• Collect the urine in the container up to the marking indicated on it, which would be around 30-50 millilitres 
• Cap the container and finish urinating in the toilet. Send the sample to a lab. as soon as possible

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Normal results:

Glucose is usually absent in urine. The normal range of glucose in urine is 0-15 milligrams per decilitre (0-0.8 millimoles per litre).

Abnormal results:

High levels of glucose are usually an indication of diabetes, though higher than normal levels of glucose may also indicate the presence of some other conditions such as:

• Pregnancy - Higher than normal urine glucose levels in pregnant women may be a sign of gestational diabetes
• Kidney disorder
• Cushing syndrome (a hormonal disorder characterised by high levels of cortisol)
• Acromegaly (a disorder caused by high levels of growth hormone)
• Acute stress that may be in response to conditions like trauma or stroke
• Excessive food consumption
• Hyperthyroidism
• Pancreatitis
• Pancreatic cancer

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.

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