Body and biology
What Is Urinary Glucose Excretion? SGLT2 Medicines Explained
Urinary glucose excretion · say it: YOOR-ih-nair-ee GLOO-kohs ek-SKREE-shunAlso written: glucosuria, glycosuria, sugar in the urine, UGE
Short answer
Urinary glucose excretion means sugar (glucose) leaving the body in the urine, which is how SGLT2 inhibitor diabetes medicines lower blood sugar.
What it means
Normally, the kidneys filter glucose out of the blood and then take almost all of it back, so very little ends up in the urine. Urinary glucose excretion is the amount of glucose that does pass out in the urine. It can rise when blood sugar is very high, or when a medicine stops the kidneys taking glucose back.
The phrase appears on SGLT2 inhibitor labels because that is how these medicines work: they block a protein in the kidneys called SGLT2, so more glucose leaves in the urine and blood sugar falls. Labels also explain the knock-on effects, such as more frequent urination, a higher chance of genital yeast infections, and that urine glucose tests will show positive while taking the medicine.
Glucose in the urine from an SGLT2 inhibitor is expected and is not a sign of poorly controlled diabetes. Without such a medicine, glucose in the urine can be a sign that blood sugar is high and should be discussed with a doctor.
Where you may see it
- The 'Mechanism of Action' section of SGLT2 inhibitor labels
- Lab test interference notes ('positive urine glucose test')
- Urine test strips and urinalysis reports
📄 How it looks on a report
SGLT2 inhibitors increase urinary glucose excretion. Patients will test positive for glucose in their urine.
🙅 What it does not mean
- A positive urine glucose test on an SGLT2 inhibitor does not mean your diabetes is out of control.
- It does not mean your kidneys are damaged; the medicine is working as designed.
- Sugar in the urine without these medicines is not normal and should be checked, not ignored.
🎯 Check yourself
Which of these is the right meaning of “Urinary glucose excretion”?
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Urinary glucose excretion”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Empagliflozin
a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, a prescription medicine that works on sugar handling in the kidneys
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Urinary glucose excretion” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
Seeing this word on your own report? Get every line of it explained, free.
Explain my report🧩 Related words
🔎 Look up another word
More words: body and biology
General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.