Do you have too much sugar in your urine? (Glycosuria)

Have you ever thought that your urine , that is, urine, can give you clues about some problems in your body? Yes, it is true. Sometimes, without us realizing it, various changes occur in our body. One such thing is the sugar level, that is, the glucose level, in the urine, which is higher than normal. This is what we medically call glycosuria . Don't be too scared when you hear this name. Today, we will talk about everything in a simple way that you can understand.

What is glycosuria?

Simply put, glycosuria is when you have more sugar (glucose) in your urine than is normal. It is normal to have a small amount of sugar in your urine. However, if a urine test shows that the sugar level is more than 0.25 milligrams per milliliter (0.25 mg/ml), then that is a condition called glycosuria.

Sometimes this can be a symptom of a condition called hyperglycemia , which is high blood sugar. However, it can also occur in people with normal or low blood sugar levels. For example, if your kidneys are not filtering waste products properly, you may develop glycosuria.

What are the symptoms of glycosuria?

Not everyone has obvious symptoms of this condition. You may have it for years and not even know it. However, over time, if left untreated, the following can happen:

Common symptoms

• Extreme thirst or hunger: Do you feel thirsty all the time? Do you feel like you're not getting enough water no matter how much you drink? Or if you're hungry, and still feel hungry after eating, that could also be a symptom of this condition.
• Dehydration: The body can lose too much water and become dehydrated.
• Urinating more frequently than usual: If you feel the need to urinate more frequently, that's also something to look into.

Symptoms that come with diabetes

If glycosuria is a symptom of a condition like Type 2 Diabetes , you may experience the following:

• Fatigue: If you constantly feel tired or sleepy for no reason.
• Unexplained weight loss: If you suddenly lose weight without changing your eating habits.
• Vision changes: Your vision may feel a little blurry.
• Discoloration of skin where skin meets skin: If the skin turns black or brown in areas such as the armpits, inner elbows, and the folds of the neck.
• Wounds take a long time to heal: Even a small wound or scrape takes a long time to heal.

What are the causes of glycosuria?

There are three main reasons for this:

Main reasons

1. Your body doesn't make or use insulin properly: Insulin is a hormone that helps control sugar in our bodies. When there is a problem with this, sugar in the blood increases and sugar can also be released in the urine.

2. Getting too much sugar for your body to handle at once: Sometimes when we eat a lot of sugary foods at once, our body can't handle it all.

3. You have kidney disease: If there is a problem with the kidneys reabsorbing sugar back into the body, sugar will be excreted in the urine.

Some medical conditions that cause glycosuria

In particular, people with the following medical conditions may develop glycosuria:

• Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: In these conditions, your pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or your body does not respond properly to insulin.
• Gestational Diabetes: Some people develop high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) during pregnancy. This can lead to type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as glycosuria.
• Fanconi Syndrome: In this condition, your kidneys have difficulty reabsorbing certain substances, such as potassium, phosphorus, and glucose, into your body. Instead, these substances are excreted in your urine.
• Renal Glycosuria: This is a hereditary condition. In this condition, glucose is excreted in the urine even though your blood sugar level is normal. This condition can occur if certain genetic mutations cause defects in the kidneys, especially those affecting the functioning of the kidney tubules.

Think about it, sometimes we eat a lot of sweet food and drink at a party, right? At such times, the sugar level in the urine can temporarily increase. This is called alimentary glycosuria . If you do not have any other disease that affects the sugar level in the blood, this will return to normal within a few hours. So there is nothing to worry about.

How is glycosuria diagnosed?

Doctors use several methods to diagnose this condition:

• Urinalysis: This involves taking a urine sample from you and sending it to a lab. A test strip is dipped into the sample and the level of sugar in your urine is measured. It's very simple.
• Blood glucose test: A doctor will take a sample of your blood and send it to a lab. This will help you determine if you have high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) along with glycosuria.
• A1C test: This test also uses a small drop of blood from your finger or a small amount of blood from a vein. This test shows your average blood sugar level over the past three months.

How is glycosuria treated?

Treatment depends on the cause of the condition. Once the underlying condition is treated, your urine sugar levels should return to normal.

Depending on your condition, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following:

• Eat more vegetables and whole grains: The fiber they provide helps control blood sugar.
• Get more physical activity: It's good to get some exercise a day.
• Metformin-like medications: These are medications used to treat diabetes. You may have heard of them under brand names like Glucophage®, Glumetza®.
• Insulin: Some diabetics need to take insulin injections.
• Other medications: There are also newer medications such as `Dulaglutide (Trulicity®)` or `Semaglutide (Ozempic®)`.

What happens if I have glycosuria?

If you follow the treatment plan as your doctor recommends, you can expect your condition to improve. In fact, most cases of glycosuria will resolve completely once the underlying condition is treated. Talk to your doctor about a treatment plan that is right for you.

Sometimes, if you have glycosuria without a major underlying health condition, you may not need to do anything. However, it is important to see a doctor if you develop any new symptoms.

Can glycosuria be prevented?

It's not always possible to prevent this, especially when it's caused by genetic conditions. However, if you have glycosuria because of Type 2 Diabetes or Gestational Diabetes, there are things you can do to reduce your risk. Once you and your doctor find ways to control the underlying condition, your urine sugar levels should return to normal.

What food should we eat?

These foods won't spike your blood sugar levels and may help reduce the risk of glycosuria:

• Leafy greens: Things like spinach, kale, and collard greens.
• Plain, unsweetened yogurt.
• Steel-cut oats.
• Whole-grain carbs: Things like brown rice, oatmeal, whole-grain bread, and pasta.

What are the things we should avoid eating?

If you have high blood sugar levels and glycosuria, it is best to limit the following foods and drinks:

• White carbohydrates like white bread, white rice, and white pasta.
• Dried fruits: These are high in sugar.
• Processed foods: Things like sweetened breakfast cereals and packaged snacks.
• Processed meats: Things like ham, bacon, sausages.
• Foods high in sugar: Sweet foods like cakes, biscuits, and candy.

When do you need to see a doctor?

Tell a doctor if you feel anything like this:

• Symptoms of glycosuria, such as fatigue, excessive thirst, and frequent urination, occur.
• If you have diabetes and notice a sudden change in your symptoms.

When do you need to go to an Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) ?

The symptoms of glycosuria are not always obvious. And it is not possible to know exactly how much sugar is in your urine without a urine test. However, the symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) are easy to recognize. And they can indicate a more serious problem.

If you have any of these symptoms, call 1990 immediately or go to the nearest emergency room:

• If your blood glucose level is higher than 250 mg/dL. (You can buy a blood glucose monitor at any pharmacy.)
• If you have severe abdominal pain.
• If you have trouble staying awake.
• If the skin is dry.
• If the heartbeat is fast.
• If breathing is rapid.

Is it normal for people with diabetes to have glycosuria?

Glycosuria can be a symptom of untreated or poorly controlled diabetes. However, once you find a way to control your blood sugar levels, the symptoms of glycosuria should go away.

On its own, glycosuria is not something to worry about. However, when it occurs along with high blood sugar, it can be a sign that you have another condition that needs treatment. If tests show that your urine sugar level is high, talk to your doctor about what to do next and how to reduce your symptoms. Once the underlying condition is treated, your urine sugar level should return to normal.

Some very important points (Take-Home Message)

Okay, so, from what we've talked about, these are the most important things you need to remember:

• Glycosuria is the presence of excessive amounts of sugar (glucose) in the urine.
• There can be several reasons for this. Things like diabetes, kidney problems, and sometimes eating a lot of carbohydrates at once.
• Symptoms don't come across the same for everyone. Look for things like frequent thirst, frequent urination , and fatigue.
• Don't worry. It can be diagnosed and, in most cases, cured by treating the underlying cause.
• If you have any doubts or symptoms, be sure to see a doctor. Then you can get the right advice and treatment.
• Maintaining a healthy diet and an active lifestyle helps protect against many diseases.

Remember, you are the one who should be most aware of your health. If you have any problems, ask, find out, and get treatment. Then you can stay healthy!

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