Definition
- Detection of glucose on a semiquantitative urine dipstick or Clinitest tablets is an insensitive means of screening for type 2 diabetes. The high rate of false-negative results suggests that the urine dipstick is not adequate as a screening test. In addition, not all patients with glucosuria have diabetes. Glucosuria can occur with defects in renal tubular function, as seen in type 2 (proximal) renal tubular acidosis and in familial renal glucosuria, a genetic disorder associated with salt-wasting, polyuria, and volume depletion.
- Normal range: see Table 16.37.
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TABLE 16 " “37Normal Values for Urine GlucoseView LargeTABLE 16 " “37Normal Values for Urine Glucose Specimen Type Value 24-h urine 0.04 " “0.21 g/d Random urine In mg/g creatinine Male <40 y 3 " “181 >40 y 19 " “339 Female <40 y 5 " “203 >40 y 8 " “331
Use
- Aiding the evaluation of glucosuria and renal tubular defects
- Management of DM
Interpretation
Increased In
- Any cause of increased blood glucose
- Endocrine disorders (DM, thyrotoxicosis, gigantism, acromegaly, Cushing syndrome)
- Major trauma
- Stroke
- Myocardial infarction
- Oral steroid therapy
- Burns, infections
- Pheochromocytoma
Decreased In
- Treatment with ascorbic acid, levodopa, or mercurial diuretics
Limitations
- Prolonged exposure of urine sample to room temperature lower glucose results due to microbial contamination and glycolysis.
- Specific gravity >1.020 and increased pH cause reduced sensitivity and falsely low glucose levels.