What is Urine Glucose Test

Urine glucose test measures how much sugar (glucose) is in your urine. Normally, the kidneys filter glucose out of the blood and then the glucose is reabsorbed into the bloodstream to be used by the body for energy. If there is too much glucose in the blood, some glucose is not reabsorbed and instead leaves the body through urine. You may have a urine glucose test:

• As part of a routine urine test. The urine glucose test is a part of standard urine testing.
• To check if you have diabetes (diabetes mellitus).
• To check for kidney problems.
• To check for a urinary tract infection (UTI).

What kind of sample is taken?

A urine sample is required for this test. You may be asked to provide just one urine sample (random specimen), or you may be asked to collect urine samples at home over a period of 24 hours (24-hour specimen).

How do I collect samples at home?

When collecting a urine sample at home, make sure you:

• Use supplies and instructions that you received from the lab. 
• Collect urine only in the germ-free (sterile) cup that you received from the lab. 
• Do not let any toilet paper or stool (feces) get into the cup.
• Refrigerate the sample until you can return it to the lab. 
• Return the sample(s) to the lab as instructed.

Tell a health care provider about:

• All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
• Any medical conditions you have.
• Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.

How are the results reported?

• Random specimen test results will be reported as positive or negative for glucose.
• 24-hour specimen test results will be reported as a value that indicates how much glucose is in your urine. Your health care provider will compare your results to normal ranges that were established after testing a large group of people (reference ranges). Reference ranges may vary among labs and hospitals. For the 24-hour urine glucose test, a common reference range is 50–300 mg/day or 0.3–1.7 mmol/day (SI units).

What do the results mean?

If you had the random specimen test:

• A negative result means that you have no glucose in your urine or a very small amount of glucose in your urine. This is normal.
• A positive result means that you have too much glucose in your urine.

If you had the 24-hour specimen test:

• A result within the reference range is considered normal.
• A result above the reference range means that you have too much glucose in your urine.

If you have too much glucose in your urine, this may mean that you have:

• Diabetes.
• A temporary form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy (gestational diabetes).
• Kidney disease.
• Genetic defects in how the kidneys filter blood.
• Severe stress.
• Recent injury.

Talk with your health care provider about what your results mean.

Questions to ask your health care provider

Ask your health care provider, or the department that is doing the test:

• When will my results be ready?
• How will I get my results?
• What are my treatment options?
• What other tests do I need?
• What are my next steps?

Summary

• The urine glucose test measures how much sugar (glucose) is in your urine.
• Normally, the kidneys filter glucose out of the blood and then the glucose is reabsorbed into the bloodstream to be used by the body for energy. If there is too much glucose in the blood, some glucose is not reabsorbed and instead leaves the body through urine.
• A positive result or a result that is higher than the reference range means that you have too much glucose in your urine. Talk with your health care provider about what your results mean.