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Glucose in urine (glucosuria)
Healthy kidneys return all glucose to the blood. Sugar appears in urine when the filter is overloaded or damaged.
Other names: GLU, Glucose, sugar in urineSection: UrinalysisSpecialist: Primary care physician, endocrinologist, nephrologistSample: UrinePart of: Urinalysis
Updated: September 17, 2026·MedProtect editorial team Reference information — not a diagnosis or a prescription
In shortNormally urine contains no glucose (traces up to 0.8–1.7 mmol/L are allowed). It appears when blood sugar crosses the renal threshold (~9–10 mmol/L) — typical of diabetes — or when the threshold itself is lowered: in pregnancy and renal glucosuria.
What this marker is
The kidneys filter glucose from blood but immediately reclaim it — a healthy person has no sugar in urine. This mechanism works up to a blood glucose of about 9–10 mmol/L, the renal threshold.
Glucose in urine (glucosuria) occurs in two situations: blood sugar above the threshold (diabetes), or a lowered threshold (pregnancy, renal glucosuria — with normal blood sugar). So urine glucose is always compared with a blood glucose taken at the same time.
Reference ranges
Group
Reference range
All groups
normally absent; traces up to 0.8–1.7 mmol/L
Renal threshold
glucose appears in urine when blood sugar exceeds ~9–10 mmol/L
Pregnancy
the threshold is lowered — traces possible with normal blood sugar; monitored by OGTT
Urine glucose cannot be judged without blood sugar: in diabetes both rise, in renal glucosuria blood sugar is normal. After a sweet meal or major stress, brief traces are possible. Ranges differ between laboratories.
Check your value
Enter the number from your lab report — see how it compares with the typical range. Mind the units shown in the chosen row.
An approximate comparison with a typical range, not a diagnosis. Ranges differ between laboratories — use the one on your report; a doctor interprets the result.
Units and conversion
Measured in: mmol/L
mmol/L=mg/dL
mg/dL = mmol/L × 18.0 (glucose, molar mass 180.2)
When it is high or appears: possible causes
Diabetes mellitusBlood sugar above the renal threshold — urine glucose together with high blood glucose and HbA1c.
Renal glucosuriaA lowered kidney reabsorption threshold — with normal blood sugar.
PregnancyPhysiological lowering of the threshold; the doctor rules out gestational diabetes by OGTT.
One-off loadA heavy sweet meal, severe stress, IV glucose solutions.
What can skew the result
These factors can shift the result without any disease — keep them in mind before a retest:
Sweet food the day beforeStressNo paired fasting blood glucoseSGLT2 inhibitor medication — urine glucose is expected
How to prepare
A midstream sample of the first morning urine after cleaning the genital area, in a clean container, delivered to the lab within 1–2 hours. Details: Preparation: urine.
When a retest makes sense
A doubtful result is retested in 1–2 weeks with careful preparation. During treatment of a urinary tract infection, a follow-up is done 1–2 weeks after the course, as prescribed by the doctor.
Who usually reviews this result
An out-of-range result is usually reviewed by: Primary care physician, endocrinologist, nephrologist. Bring your report and any previous results to the visit.
Names used on lab reports
Look for one of these names on your report: Glucose in urineGLUGlucoseSugar in urineGlucosuria
Several markers on your report?
The app reads your whole report — this marker together with its neighbors, not one by one.
Not always. In diabetes, sugar is high in both blood and urine. But renal glucosuria exists, where kidneys leak sugar with normal blood glucose. Only a pair of tests settles it: fasting blood glucose and/or HbA1c.
Why is there sugar in urine in pregnancy with normal blood?
In pregnancy the renal threshold is physiologically lowered, and traces of urine glucose occur in healthy women. To not miss gestational diabetes, all pregnant women take a glucose tolerance test.
What to do if glucose is found in urine?
Take fasting blood glucose and HbA1c — they show the real sugar level. Then see a primary care physician or endocrinologist.
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