Diabetes Mellitus Diagnosis and Monitoring

Diabetes Mellitus - Diagnosis and Monitoring

• Glycosuria and Diabetes: Glucose in the urine (glycosuria) often indicates diabetes mellitus, but further tests are needed. Glycosuria is usually accompanied by increased urination (polyuria) and thirst.

• Ketone Levels: Inadequate carbohydrate use in diabetes leads to increased fat metabolism, resulting in elevated ketone levels in blood and urine.

• Urine Glucose Tests: Urine glucose tests are simpler and cheaper than blood tests, but they have limitations.

• Urine Tests Advantages: These tests are beneficial for well-controlled diabetics who don't need frequent insulin/medication adjustments.

• Urine Tests Limitations (Insulin-Dependent): In insulin-dependent diabetes, a negative urine test may not accurately reflect blood glucose levels due to variable renal glucose thresholds. Home blood glucose monitoring is preferred in these cases.

• Reagent Strip Interpretation: Testing for glycosuria has interpretation difficulties at lower glucose levels (1-2 g/dL). Alternative methods (copper reduction or advanced reagent strips) may improve accuracy.

• Clinitest Method: The Clinitest tablet method allows estimating lower reducing substance levels (10 g/dL) in urine using a smaller sample (one drop).

• 24-Hour Urine Glucose: Monitoring over a 24-hour period provides a more comprehensive picture of glucose regulation and complements other long-term measures.