How to Diagnose Glycosuria

Glycosuria is a medical term for excess sugar in the urine. It occurs when the body cannot process the sugar that a person is consuming. There are home tests for glycosuria that you can purchase and use; if the results are positive, it indicates that you have a medical condition such as diabetes and should see your doctor.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Purchase a home urine glucose kit or a vial of test strips. Most drug stores stock these products with other supplies for diabetics.
2. Store the strips according to the manufacturer's instructions. Some strips are individually wrapped in foil; this helps to protect them from heat, light and humidity, which can destroy them.
3. Collect your urine in a clean dry container. An alternative method is to pass the test strip through the stream of urine as it leaves your body.
4. Check the results, which will be indicated by a color change on the test pad of the strip. If your glucose level is greater than 10 to 12 mmol/L, it means that glucose is being excreted into your urine and you have glycosuria. See your doctor.

Tips & Warnings

• Glycosuria often signals that a person has diabetes, but it can also be related to a condition known as renal glycosuria.
• Although they are fairly accurate, home urine test results can be affected by a number of things, like eating too many carbohydrates or taking certain vitamin supplements. Your doctor can perform a more accurate test in the office.
• Blood sugar monitors are more accurate than urine strips for controlling diabetes, so many insurance companies won't pay for the strips.