Glucose in Urine Test

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.

Why this test is done

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.

How to prepare

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.

Sample type

Urine

Other names for this test

urine sugar test; urine glucose test; glucosuria test; glycosuria test