Diagnosing Diabetes
| Author: Judy Kohn, RN, BSN, CDE |
| Last Updated: Thursday, July 31, 2008 |
Q: "If I had diabetes, would it always show up in a urine test done by my family doctor?"
A: The answer is no-diabetes would not always show up in a urine test. Here's why:
A normal blood glucose is under 100mg/dl before meals, and under 140 mg/dl after meals.
NOTE: Some countries use mmol/l instead of mg/dl. To get the equivalent mmol, you can multiply the glucose value in mg/dl by the conversion factor of 0.05551 (example: 100 mg/dl X 0.05551 =5.55 mmol/l). Or, you can use an easier but less precise way by dividing the mg/dl value by 18 to get the equivalent number in mmol/l (example: 100 divided by 18 = 5.5).
Diabetes is diagnosed if the fasting blood glucose is over 125, or if a random glucose is over 199.
Normally, glucose does not spill into the urine (where it could be detected in a urine test) until the blood glucose is around 180-200mg/dl. That level is called a renal threshold and the common renal threshold for most people is 180.
So, if your blood glucose were 126-180, though this level would be considered in the diabetic range, your urine would not show sugar.
Because of this issue, the American Diabetes Association Clinical Practice Recommendations do not recommend screening for or diagnosing diabetes from urine tests, but rather from a blood test.
I included additional information below so that you can be aware of the symptoms of diabetes:
24 million people (8% of the U.S. population) have diabetes, yet 1/4 (about 5.7 million) of them are unaware they have the disease. Often, people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms at all, or their only symptom is fatigue. In addition, it has been estimated that the average person with type 2 diabetes has had the disease 7-10 years before being diagnosed.
Warning signs of diabetes:
- Unusual thirst
- Extreme hunger
- Unusual weight loss
- Extreme fatigue
- Irritability
- Frequent infections
- Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
- Recurring skin, gum or bladder infections
- Blurred vision
- Tingling/numbness in the hands or feet
People at greater risk for type 2 diabetes:
- People over age 45
- People with a family history of diabetes
- People who are overweight
- People who do not exercise regularly
- People who have high blood pressure
- People with low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides
- Certain racial and ethnic groups (African Americans, Latinos, Asian and Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans)
- Women who had gestational diabetes (a form of diabetes occurring in 3-5 percent of all pregnancies) or who have had a baby weighing 9 pounds or more at birth.
So, if you have any of the above symptoms, or if you belong to one of the above mentioned high risk groups, please see your doctor as soon as possible to have a blood test for diabetes.
Related Links
American Diabetes Association (ADA)
http://www.diabetes.org
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC)
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
Important Notice: The responses provided by the team of Diabetes Educators are based on their personal experiences and expertise as practicing diabetes healthcare professionals, and are not to be considered diabetes management advice from Abbott Laboratories. Remember that information provided by the team of Diabetes Educators is for general background purposes and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by a trained professional. You should always consult your physician about any healthcare questions you may have, especially before trying a new medication, diet, fitness program, or approach to healthcare issues.
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