Glucosuria, or the determination of glucose in the urine, is the presence of a high level of sugar in the urine, which may be associated with complications in the work of the kidneys, nephrogenic diabetes mellitus. In this article, you can learn more about this condition, including symptoms, causes, and preventive measures. Also try to understand the normal and abnormal indicators of sugar in the urine.
Symptoms of glucosuria
There are no obvious symptoms of glucosuria. In fact, many people may have increased glucose in their urine over the years, and they don’t even suspect it.
If you do not notice and treat this symptom for a long time, this can cause:
- feeling of extreme thirst (polydipsia);
- dehydration (dehydration);
- excessive hunger;
- frequent urination (polyuria);
- unexplained progressive weight loss;
- chronic fatigue;
- urinary incontinence;
- slowly healing wounds, ulcers;
- darkening of the skin in the folds of the neck, armpits and other areas.
Differences between blood glucose and glucosuria levels
Normally, our kidneys throw sugar from the blood back into the blood vessels from any tissue fluid that passes through them. With glucosuria, the kidneys may not absorb (reabsorb) enough sugar from the urine before it is excreted from our body.
Blood glucose levels are regulated by insulin, which is produced in the pancreas in Langerhans cells. In patients with diabetes, insulin is not produced or processed properly - this means that they need to be injected. This is necessary to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood. If the glucose level is not regulated by insulin, diabetes can lead to an increase in urine glucose levels. However, diabetes is not always the cause of blood sugar. This may be a benign symptom that sometimes accompanies pregnancy.
Causes of glucose in the urine
Typically, glucosuria is caused by an underlying condition that directly affects blood sugar levels, such as diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common cause of glucosuria.
If you have this condition, it means that your insulin is not working properly. In one case, insulin cannot efficiently convert glucose to glycogen and nourish your body’s tissues. This leads to the fact that unused sugar is excreted in the urine. In another case, your body does not contain enough insulin to balance sugar levels. Any excess glucose is also excreted in the urine.
Glucosuria develops during pregnancy. This type of diabetes occurs when hormones from the placenta of the fetus “intercept” insulin from the mother’s body, thereby developing gestational diabetes. However, this type of disease is easily preventable. Glucosuria, triggered by gestational diabetes, usually does not cause any additional symptoms. If, nevertheless, any unusual symptoms appear, consult a doctor soon.
The main causes of glucosuria
Consider the most common causes of glucosuria:
- Diabetes. Excessive blood sugar (hyperglycemia) in people with uncontrolled diabetes complicates the natural reabsorption (absorption) of sugar in the kidneys and leads to its filtration into the urine.
- Hyperthyroidism Excessive thyroid hormone activity can cause a decrease in glucose absorption, which is then excreted in the urine.
- Diet high in sugar. Excessive consumption of sugars leads to an increase in the amount of glucose in the blood to a level that cannot be absorbed back into the tubules of the kidneys, which leads to its appearance in the urine.
- Benign glucosuria. A rare condition in which a kidney filtration system allows sugar to pass into urine. Usually, this condition is hereditary and does not have any additional symptoms.
- Cirrhosis of the liver. This pathology seriously affects the carbohydrate metabolism in the body, which causes an excessive amount of glucose in the blood and urine.
- Emotions Some emotions, such as fear and anger, can cause an adrenaline rush. This hormone helps break down carbohydrates in the blood by releasing glucose in order to get quick energy for the response, causing a short-term surge in glucose levels.
Urine glucose levels
Determining the amount of glucose in the analysis of urine is carried out using a test strip. And the table below explains the reference values of the indicators in normal and pathological conditions.
| Result | mg / dl | mmol / l | Value |
|---|
| Glucose in the urine: trace | 100 mg / dl | 5.55 mmol / l | A small amount of glucose in the urine means its high level in the blood. |
| Glucose 1+ | 250 mg / dl | 11.1 mmol / l | 250 ml / dl glucose is lost in urine |
| Glucose 2+ | 500 mg / dl | 27.75 mmol / l | 500 mg / dl is lost through urine |
| Glucose 3+ | 1000 mg / dl | 55.5 mmol / l | Over 1000 mg / dl of blood sugars leave through urine |
| Glucose 4+ | 2000 mg / dl | 111 mmol / l | More than 2000 mg / ml of blood glucose lost in urine |
Normally, glucose in the urine ranges from 0 to 0.8 mmol / L (millimol per liter). A higher rate may be a sign of health problems.
If the results of your urine glucose test are abnormal, further diagnosis will be performed until the cause is identified. During this time, it is especially important for you to be honest with your doctor. Make sure your doctor has a list of all the medicines you are taking, as some drugs may affect your blood and urine glucose levels. You should also tell your doctor if you are under stress, as these conditions can increase glucose levels.
Diagnosis of this condition
Glycosuria can be diagnosed in different ways, rapid urine analysis is the most common way. To perform this test, your doctor will ask you to urinate on a special test strip. Then compare the result with the standard scale. You have detected glucosuria if the amount of glucose in your urine is more than 180 milligrams per deciliter (mg / dl) in one day (24 hours).
Glucose is a monosaccharide that your body needs to use as fast energy. Insulin turns carbohydrates that come with food into glucose. The test involves taking a urine sample. After you submit your sample, a small plastic test strip will measure glucose. The indicator on the bar will change color depending on the amount of glucose in the urine. If you have moderate or high glucosuria, your doctor will do additional testing to determine the root cause.
Your GP may also send you blood tests to check your sugar level. The normal blood sugar level is usually 70-140 mg / dl, depending on whether you have recently eaten or have diabetes. If your blood sugar is high and diabetes has not been diagnosed before, your healthcare provider will most likely perform an agglomerated hemoglobin (A1C) test. This blood test contains information about your blood sugar over the past few months.
There are 2 main types of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile (childhood) type of diabetes, is usually an autoimmune condition that develops when the immune system “attacks” its own body cells - insulin-producing pancreatic cells. This means that the body cannot produce enough insulin, causing excessive amounts of sugar in the blood. People with type 1 diabetes are forced to receive injectable insulin throughout their lives to control their general condition.
Type 2 is a disease that usually develops over time. This condition is often called adult diabetes, but it can also occur in children. In people with type 2 diabetes, the body produces enough insulin, but cell receptors become resistant to its effects (insulin-independent diabetes). This means that the cells of the body cannot absorb and store glucose. Instead, glucose remains in the blood.
Type 2 diabetes develops most often in overweight people and people with a sedentary lifestyle.
Both types of diabetes can be controlled appropriately. This usually includes lifelong medication and lifestyle changes: exercise and eating healthy. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, the therapist will most likely refer you to a nutritionist. A nutritionist can help you understand how to better control your glucose by eating the right foods.
Glucosuria treatment
Glucosuria is not a concern. No treatment is required if there is no underlying disease that causes your kidneys to pass a large amount of glucose into the urine. If diabetes caused glucosuria in you, your doctor will work with you to develop a treatment plan.
Treatment options and controls
- Perform at least 30 minutes of exercise every day.
- Choosing a diet will give you enough nutrients, as well as reduce your intake of sugar and fat. This may include eating more whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
- Take your prescribed medications to help your body use insulin more efficiently.
- Regularly monitor your blood sugar so you can better understand how your body responds to certain foods, activities, or therapy.
Although type 2 diabetes is a lifelong disease, gestational diabetes is usually resolved after birth.
Conclusion
Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, medical history, urinalysis method, and other properties.
It must be remembered that glucose in the urine, this does not always mean the presence of health problems. Various factors determine the composition of urine, including depending on how well the kidneys function. For example, what and how much you drink and eat, exercise and certain medications can affect the composition of urine. It is necessary to constantly maintain the body's water balance and eating well is just as important for urine health as it is for general health.