urine+testing

=Glucose in the urine=

If your blood glucose (sugar) level remains high then you have diabetes. If the level goes too low then you have hypoglycaemia.

Urine test for glucose
Urine does not normally contain glucose. If the blood glucose level goes above a certain level, then some glucose 'spills' through the kidneys into the urine. A simple 'dipstick' test can detect glucose in a sample of urine. If you have glucose in your urine, you are likely to have diabetes.

However, some people have kidneys that are more 'leaky', and glucose may leak into urine with a normal blood level. Therefore, if your urine contains any glucose you should have a blood test to measure the blood level of glucose to confirm, or rule out, diabetes.

=Protein in the urine=

Protein test for urine
Protein can be tested in the urine using a "dipstick"

Although healthy people do pass small amounts of protein in the urine normally, above a certain level suggests that there may be damage to the filter mechanism (the glomeruli) or inflammation. A second source of protein in urine is blood that may come from any part of the kidney or urinary pathway.

High levels of protein in the urine may therefore be due to diseases of the kidney such as glomerulonephritis. It may also be due to general illnesses that also affect the kidney as in high blood pressure or heart failure. Infections of the renal pathway such as [|cystitis] or [|pyelonephritis] may cause a high level of protein in the urine. This finding is an important part of investigations for several conditions and is extremely important when considered with other symptoms that together indicate the cause.