The glucose urine test measures the amount of sugar (glucose) in a urine sample. The presence of glucose in the urine is called glycosuria or glucosuria.

See also:

• Glucose test - blood
• Glucose test - CSF
• Home glucose monitoring

Urine sugar test; Urine glucose test; Glucosuria test

A urine sample is needed. For information on collecting a urine sample, see clean catch urine specimen.

Usually, the health care provider checks for glucose in the urine sample using a dipstick made with a color-sensitive pad. The pad contains chemicals that react with glucose. The color that the dipstick changes tells the provider how much glucose is in your urine.

Your health care provider may tell you to stop taking drugs that may affect the results of the test.

Drugs that may increase urine glucose measurements include:

• Aminosalicylic acid
• Cephalosporins
• Chloral hydrate
• Chloramphenicol
• Dextrothyroxine
• Diazoxide
• Diuretics (loop and thiazides)
• Estrogens
• Ifosfamide
• Isoniazid
• Levodopa
• Lithium
• Nafcillin
• Nalidixic acid
• Nicotinic acid (large doses)

Other drugs also can cause false negative or false positive results, depending on the type of test strip used. Talk to your doctor.

The test involves only normal urination, and there is no discomfort.

This test is most commonly used to screen for diabetes.

Images

Male urinary system

Next Section

Glucose test Results

Review Date: 08/07/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)