### What is Glycosuria? Glycosuria occurs when excess blood sugar (glucose) is passed into the urine. Normally, your kidneys absorb the sugar from any liquid passing through them, but with glycosuria, the kidneys don’t absorb it all before the urine is released. ### Causes of Glycosuria Glycosuria often happens because you have an abnormally high level of glucose in your blood (hyperglycemia). Sometimes, glycosuria can develop even if you have normal or low blood sugar levels. In these situations, it’s known as renal glycosuria. Glycosuria is typically caused by an underlying condition that affects your blood sugar level, such as diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common cause of glycosuria. In type 1 diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin to balance your blood sugar levels. Glycosuria can also happen if you develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Renal glycosuria is a much rarer form of glycosuria, often caused by a mutation in a specific gene. Fanconi syndrome can also cause glycosuria due to a defect in the kidney's filtering units. ### Symptoms of Glycosuria There aren’t any immediately obvious symptoms of glycosuria. Many people experience glycosuria for years and never notice symptoms. If left untreated, glycosuria can cause complications. If your glycosuria is a sign of type 2 diabetes, you may also experience symptoms related to diabetes. ### Diagnosis of Glycosuria Glycosuria can be diagnosed through urinalysis, where a test strip is dipped into the urine to check glucose levels. Blood tests may also be ordered to check blood sugar levels. If diabetes is suspected, a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test may be performed. ### Management and Treatment Glycosuria isn’t a cause for concern on its own. No treatment is needed if there isn’t an underlying condition. If diabetes is causing your glycosuria, your doctor will develop a treatment plan. Possible treatment options include lifestyle changes, medications, and regular monitoring. The outlook for glycosuria without an associated condition is good. If your glycosuria is caused by diabetes, maintaining a consistent treatment plan can improve your outlook.