When sugar in urine is detected in laboratory tests, most would automatically conclude that the person has diabetes. In a lot of cases, this is true; however, there are instances wherein the sugar in urine is not caused by diabetes. One of the functions of the kidneys is to reabsorb glucose or sugar into the body. If the sugar level exceeds the normal limit which is 140mg/dl and shoots up to 180mg/dl or even higher, the kidneys would then expel the excess sugar from the body through the urine. To confirm the underlying cause of sugar in urine, further tests should be conducted.
Diabetes-Causes of Sugar in Urine
The most common cause of sugar in urine is because of the excessive amount of glucose or sugar in the blood. One of the primary functions of the kidney is to filter the sugar and reabsorb it back to the body as the body needs the sugar for energy. However, if there is an abnormally high amount of sugar in the blood, the excess glucose permeates into the kidney and is excreted in the urine.
It should be kept in mind, however, that sugar in urine does not always mean diabetes. Further diagnostic tests like complete blood count should be done in order to confirm the disease.
Other Possible Causes of Sugar in Urine
Sugar in urine does not automatically mean diabetes. Below is the list of possible causes as to why sugar can be detected in the urine:
• Renal Glycosuria – It may be Renal glycosuria when sugar is found in urine during urinalysis but the complete blood count shows normal levels of sugar. This happens because of the possible damage of the renal tubules of the kidneys. The renal tubules consist of the nephrons which serve as filters and also function to reabsorb glucose back to the body.
• Nephrotic syndrome – Nephrotic syndrome is a condition wherein there is damage to the kidney’s filtering system. This causes albumin or protein and sugar to leak to the kidneys and be excreted through the urine.
• Kidney transplant – If an individual just had a kidney transplant, it is possible to find sugar in urine in the first few weeks after surgery as the new kidney is still adjusting. After a few weeks, the urine would be hopefully normal. Proper and constant monitoring should be given to the individual who just had a kidney transplant.
• Prediabetes – Prediabetes is a condition wherein the level of glucose has exceeded the normal level in the blood but not yet high enough for it to be diagnosed as diabetes. The excess glucose passes through the kidneys and excreted in the urine. Individuals with this condition should immediately seek medical advice on how to prevent diabetes from happening.
• Sugar in urine during pregnancy is also very common. It may be alarming however, it is important to stay calm and not to jump into conclusion. The best person to consult about this is the doctor.
Sugar in Urine during Pregnancy
A lot of pregnant women often experience finding sugar in their urine during routine urinalysis. They become very concerned whether it is diabetes or not. Some become confused because their urine tests show the presence of sugar in urine, yet some other diagnostic tests do not show any signs of diabetes. So what is the real cause for the presence of sugar?
Sugar in urine during pregnancy is quite common. It could be gestational diabetes or it could just mean that the kidney filtration system of the pregnant woman has been altered allowing sugar to spill into the urine. If the other confirmatory tests show that it is not diabetes, but worries still plague the expectant mother, she should be advised not to take food with sugar for 24 hours and come back to the clinic to do the test again.
Different Symptoms that could indicate a Serious Condition
If sugar is found in urine and the person experiences these symptoms, immediate medical attention should be given.
• Feeling of constant fatigue even if the person is not doing much
• Increased appetite and always feeling hungry
• Constant or recurring infections
• Frequent urination and thirst
• Feeling irritable most of the time
• Vision changes or even temporary loss of vision
• Tingling sensation on the extremities (hands and legs)
• Slow paced healing of some wounds
The healthcare professional would conduct diagnostic tests such as urinalysis and complete blood count. This would help them determine the real condition of the patient and come up with the best possible treatment.
Management and Treatment of sugar in urine
For pregnant women, eating of sweets and other sugar rich foods is really not advisable as it could lead to gestational diabetes. For persons who develop diabetes, they should keep in mind that the disease is not something to ignore. Diabetes could develop more serious complications or could branch out to other diseases such as hypertension and kidney failure.
The first step is to seek medical advice from the doctor. The doctor would then prescribe medications such as Furosemide and Metformin to help modulate sugar levels in the body. For worse cases, the doctor would advice insulin shots. Foods rich in sugar should also be avoided by diabetics. The doctor could help a lot in the treatment of the patient, however, the best person to help battle diabetes is himself as diabetes is a lifestyle disease and needs self-discipline to effectively combat it.
For those who have developed pre-diabetes, it is important to seek medical advice as to how to prevent diabetes from ensuing. One of the best advices is to keep away from sweet foods or minimize the intake of sugar-rich snacks and to have a daily cardiovascular exercise such as jogging or walking. For individuals who have nephrotic or other kidney problems, it is best to seek help from the nephrologist. The specialist would conduct different diagnostic tests to better determine the real cause of the kidney problem and find the best treatment to employ.
Sugar in Urine is something that should not be taken for granted. If detected, it is best to seek medical advice immediately in order to correct it right away. It is always better to be safe than to risk one’s health by just disregarding this finding.
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