The medical term for sugar in urine is glucosuria, which can indicate many conditions, including diabetes.
Usually, there is no sugar in the urine or only in very small quantities.
Urine usually does not contain a significant amount of sugar or glucose because the kidneys absorb the filtered glucose, which then goes back into the bloodstream.
Glucose can only be found in the urine when the blood sugar level increases to such an extent that it exceeds the resorption capacity of the kidneys.
There is a kidney threshold for glucose, which is approximately between 160 and 180 mg/dl.
If the blood sugar level is too high and exceeds this threshold (for example, if it is 500 mg/dl), the kidneys fill up and cannot absorb the glucose.
As a result, a considerable amount of glucose enters the urine. This condition is known as glucosuria.
Normal levels of urinary glucose
The reference values are:
- Zero → there must be no glucose in the simple urine test
- 30-90 mg → in 24-hour urine, whether the patient is a man, woman or child.
Contents
Possible causes of glucosuria
The renal corpuscles filter the glucose present in the blood. Then the proximal renal tubules absorb the filtered glucose, which returns to the bloodstream.
If the blood sugar level increases to such an extent that the kidneys cannot fully absorb glucose, this normal process can stop.
The kidneys then begin to excrete the glucose massively into the urine.
Diseases that cause a significant increase in blood sugar levels can lead to glucosuria. Another possible cause is the inability of the renal tubules to absorb sugar in sufficient amounts, even when blood sugar is normal.
In this case, the sugar is increased in the urine, but not in the blood.
Elevated blood sugar (or hyperglycemia) can result from diseases such as diabetes mellitus.
In diabetes, the body’s cells cannot absorb and use glucose from the bloodstream, whether due to a lack of insulin or the inability of the body’s cells to respond to insulin. The result is that the blood sugar level rises.
Long-term use of cortisone can lead to an increase in blood sugar even without diabetes.
In addition to diabetes, other diseases can also cause hyperglycemia and eventually glucosuria. These diseases include Cushing’s syndrome, acromegaly, and thyrotoxicosis.
Sometimes glucosuria can be attributed to a benign origin, such as eating heavy meals or eating too much sweet foods.
On the other hand, renal glucosuria is a disease in which the kidneys are unable to fully absorb glucose, even when blood sugar levels are normal. This disease may be related to:
- Kidney disease
- Fanconi syndrome
- Wilson’s disease
- Cystinosis
- Hereditary tyrosinemia
- Heavy metal poisoning
- Lowe syndrome
- Interstitial nephritis
Glucose levels in urine
With the help of a urine glucose test, the glucose level in the urine can be measured.
Most alimentary carbohydrates are converted into glucose in the body.
This blood glucose is used to release energy for the various bodily functions. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the existing level of glucose in the blood.
During the period when blood sugar levels are high, the pancreas secretes insulin and lowers the level of sugar in the blood. Normally, blood sugar levels are low in the morning and increase after each meal.
There are two measures of glucose that you can lose: while fasting and after eating.
Fasting readings require the person to fast for 8-10 hours before the glucose test, and the second reading is measured 2 or 3 hours after a meal.
Some people might be asked to drink a glucose solution and take the test an hour afterward. Fasting glucose levels between 70 and 126 mg/dl are normal. In addition, a measurement after a meal of 120 to 140 mg/dl is considered normal.
Any higher number is defined as hyperglycemia and the person as diabetic.
Lower blood sugar levels, on the other hand, are called hypoglycemia.
Signs and symptoms of sugar in the urine
This abnormal urine level is the effect of another disorder, such as diabetes, and causes no symptoms.
Tests for urinary glucose levels
The glucose level in the urine is determined by a “spot test”.
This test consists of a rod and a color-sensitive pad impregnated with certain chemicals that react with glucose. If the urine comes into contact with the pad and the rod, the pad changes color if glucose is present in the urine. In addition, the hue and color indicate the amount of concentration of glucose in the urine.
You can compare the reference values with a color table in the set and read the meaning of the different colors.
If the test shows an abnormal amount of glucose in the urine, further investigations are carried out.
However, for people with a renal threshold (renal glucosuria) lowered for glucose, the interpretation of the urine test is difficult.
People taking medication must tell their doctor about it.
People with diabetes perform this test regularly. They write down the various test results and bring the results with them to their next visit to the doctor.
These tests are especially beneficial for people who shy away from taking a blood draw to check glucose levels.
The biggest disadvantage of these urine tests to detect glucose in the urine is that they do not indicate too low glucose levels, they only indicate high urine glucose levels, namely above 10 mmol/l. In addition, some drugs can distort the test results.
Other anomalies and their significance
Proteins. Usually, no protein is present in the urine. Proteins in the urine can be caused by fever, heavy physical exertion, pregnancy and some diseases (especially kidney disease).
Nitrite. Bacteria that cause urinary tract infection produce an enzyme that converts the nitrates in the urine into nitrites.
Nitrites in the urine indicate that there is an infection of the urinary tract.
Leukocyte esterase. Leukocyte esterase indicates leukocytes in the urine (white blood cells).
White blood cells in the urine may indicate an existing infection of the urinary tract.
What to do? Therapy and natural remedies for high or very high glucose levels in the urine
Treatment depends on the cause of the disorder. In the case of kidney disease, it is necessary to consult a nephrologist to establish the diagnosis and initiate the appropriate therapy.
If urinary glucose levels are high due to diabetes or diet, the diet must be changed or a nutritionist consulted.
High levels of glucose in the urine during pregnancy
One of the signs of gestational diabetes is high levels of glucose in the urine during pregnancy.
This is a type of diabetes that can occur during the second period of pregnancy and last until delivery.
An increase in blood sugar levels can lead to hyperglycemia and can be detected by a blood test.
Although the exact reason for a recurrence of gestational diabetes is not yet known, doctors believe that abnormal levels of sugar in the body can be harmful to both the mother and the child.
When a woman is pregnant, the placenta connected to the fetus for blood supply produces hormones that can impair insulin function.
This can lead to increased sugar levels in the urine during pregnancy because gestational diabetes has been caused.
This can be harmful to the fetus, because an increase in blood sugar in the mother can also pass to the embryo via the placenta.
Newborns of these mothers may have some problems, such as too large a head circumference at birth (hydrocephalus) or difficulty breathing.
These children also have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
What to do? How is glucosuria treated in pregnancy?
As already mentioned, a delay in therapy can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Regarding these complaints, a gynecologist should be consulted.
During pregnancy, a routine examination of sugar levels (especially in each trimester of pregnancy) can prevent the occurrence of unwanted complications.
The doctor may order some tests, such as a blood test, glucose tolerance test, and a physical exam to detect a medical condition.
If the tests confirm elevated glucose levels, the doctor may recommend some changes in diet and lifestyle.
After consulting a midwife or gynecologist, usual physical exercises and a healthy diet promote health and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
What should you eat?
As a rule, a healthy diet consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains is recommended. This helps control blood sugar levels and also leads to lower glucose levels in the urine.
To avoid unwanted complications, one should not eat ready-made products and foods containing refined carbohydrates and saturated animal fats, such as desserts and cakes.
