Diabetes Information Site

Question: How accurate are urine tests when testing for type 1 diabetes?

(Posted by: Fiona on 2010-03-18 10:03:22)

I recently had a sample of my urine tested for abnormal glucose levels, because I've recently been experiencing some of the symptoms of type I diabetes. I've been needing to pee a lot more frequently, have had an unquenchable thirst (I'm not compelled to drink all that more often, it's just that when I do drink it doesn't seem to help. My mouth still feels dry etc) and most of all, I've been suffering from really bad fatigue and muscle weakness (and pain). The glucose levels in my urine sample where totally normal, but I've been asked to return on Monday to undergo blood tests. I was just wondering what having a normal result for the urine sample means and how accurate the urine test is. Basically, is it still possible that I am diabetic, even if the urine sample came out as normal? Thanks.

Posted by: xaxorm on 2010-03-18, 10:41:26

I suppose it's possible you have untreated type 1 diabetes, which is what you are asking about, but very unlikely without sugar or ketones in your urine.

Posted by: essentiallysolo on 2010-03-18, 10:07:44

The "sticks " for urine testing are used to see if your kidneys are "spilling " sugar. This doesn't necessarily happen in controlled diabetics, so they aren't generally used for diagnosis, only for monitoring. Get the blood tests, especially the A1C test (glycosylated hemoglobin) anything over six is diabetic.

Posted by: dr on 2010-03-18, 10:42:16

One has to be sure and certain that testing negative for urine sugar does not at all means that one is not a diabetic.True,if your urine sugar ts positive it almost always shows that you are a diabetic.But the reverse is not that true.If your urine sugar is to be positive your bloodsugar has to be above 180 mg/ 100ml,ie,above the renalthreshold as it is called.But you know that blood sugar above 100mg/ 100ml fasting is abnormal.Again a random value of 160mg/ 100ml is quite abnormal.Hence it is quite clear that estimation of urine sugar is quite an erroneous and outdated way of screening for diabetes.Better you do a fasting blood sugar estimation. DR,N.Sasidharan,Nooranad

Posted by: dingding on 2010-03-18, 14:47:01

If it was diabetes that was causing those symptoms, your blood glucose would be high enough to register on a urinalysis strip. Usually thirst and fatigue don't start until your BG is well over about 220, and that would show up. The blood tests will confirm one way or the other.