Urine analysis during pregnancy

Increased sugar levels in urine during pregnancy: causes and diagnosis

In preparation for a visit to the antenatal clinic, a woman undergoes a general urine test, because urine reacts with lightning speed to the appearance of abnormalities in the body. Such an analysis is very informative and allows you to determine at least the approximate location of the development of the disease in the body based on the increased level of individual indicators.

Table: detection of diseases by elevated levels of indicators in urine

The referral form for a general urine test displays the physical and chemical properties of urine and the results of microscopy - examination of sediment.
Glucose is necessary primarily for the production of energy. And in order to saturate the cells with glucose, a hormone produced by the pancreas is needed - insulin. If there is too little of this hormone, then glucose cannot be absorbed and does not bring any benefit, moving freely in the blood. Without nutrition, cells begin to die and die.

Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which there is a deficiency in the formation of its own insulin and an increase in blood glucose levels. Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that develops in women during pregnancy due to hormonal imbalance.

Normal level of glucose in urine

The ideal indicator of glucose in the urine is its absence. In this case, in the analysis form opposite this item they write “not detected” or “not determined.”

It is designed so that the kidneys should not pass sugar into the secondary urine; glucose passes through transverse filters twice and is spent without a trace on energy production.

The measured glucose level is compared with the acceptable level during pregnancy:

• sugar content less than 1.7 mol/l is normal;
• from 1.7 to 2.7 mol/l - permissible glucose level;
• more than 2.79 mol/l - sugar level is higher than normal, glucosuria develops.

Causes of increased glucose levels in urine

Doctors know many reasons for glucose exceeding the permissible level. Here are the most common ones:

• low physical activity, constant weight gain with changes in hormones, exceeding the usual calorie content of food. Obesity can be either a hormonal disorder or a consequence of a passion for sweets;
• late pregnancy. After 35 years, women experience natural age-related changes in hormonal levels and metabolism, which can overlap with changes in hormone levels during pregnancy and even interfere with them;
• liver pathology in the expectant mother. When the liver does not perform its tasks, substances enter the urine that should not be there, be it protein or glucose. First of all, problems are suspected with the filtering ability of the kidney parts - nephrons, when primary urine is not absorbed for recycling in full or is not processed thoroughly enough;
• heredity of the disease. Most often, diabetes is transmitted from mother to daughter. And if the expectant grandmother carries ampoules with insulin in her purse, the expectant mother should be tested for sugar levels much more often than other pregnant women;
• polycystic ovaries - when watery tubercles - cysts - grow on their surface. Polycystic ovary syndrome may not show itself with any symptoms or, on the contrary, be clearly expressed due to increased hair growth on the abdomen, perineum, inner thighs, legs, supralabial area, increased greasiness of hair and skin, as well as abdominal pain radiating to the groin or lower back;

  
  Polycystic ovary syndrome during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage and infertility

• increased nervousness of a woman. Stress also negatively affects the production of insulin, without which glucose is useless;
• taking medications - caffeine, salicylic acid, acetine, diuretics that steadily increase glucose;
• hyperthyroidism is a disease in which the thyroid gland produces hormones in excess of costs, which has a detrimental effect on the amount of insulin produced;

  
  Protruding eyes and a clearly enlarged goiter are signs of increased production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland

• presence of diabetes mellitus - chronic or gestational. Their differences are manifested in the following: gestational diabetes occurs only during pregnancy and disappears after delivery, while true diabetes mellitus has a chronic course and cannot be completely cured;
• gestational diabetes does not depress the pancreas;
• if gestational diabetes is detected, taking glucose-lowering pills is prohibited, because their safety has not been verified by research;
• Gestational diabetes is accompanied by metabolic changes in the body. Unable to meet the energy needs of the fetus, carbon metabolism is enhanced by lipid metabolism, in which energy is generated from the processing of fats;
• In gestational diabetes, placental hormones (progesterone and lactogen) increase insulin production to lower sugar levels.

Risk factors for developing diabetes

When a woman is registered for pregnancy, data is collected about her gynecological health and the course of previous pregnancies. Based on this survey, a woman is assigned to one or another risk group for miscarriage.

The prerequisites for the appearance of diabetes mellitus, which in 3% of cases after delivery becomes chronic, include:

• disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas;
• the birth during a previous pregnancy of a child weighing more than 4 kg, the so-called large fetus;
• development of gestational diabetes when bearing first children;
• miscarriage or death of the fetus in the womb;
• the age of the expectant mother is less than 18 or more than 30 years;
• previous viral or fungal candida infections in the first trimester;
• excess of normal body weight in a woman even before pregnancy;
• hormonal changes in the 20th week of pregnancy;
• aggravation of pregnancy by gestosis, up to its most severe form - eclampsia;
• the development of polyhydramnios, when the volume of amniotic fluid exceeds the norm.

If a pregnant woman is at risk of developing diabetes, then she must undergo tests and consult an endocrinologist without waiting for complications to arise.

Symptoms of increased glucose levels

At the initial stages of the development of the disease, a pregnant woman is unlikely to notice any deviations in her condition, especially if she suffers from toxicosis. But closer to 24–28 weeks of pregnancy, increased glucose levels will already be noticeable.

The most common symptoms of high glucose levels are:

• constant desire to drink: the mucous membranes of the mouth quickly dry out, as on a hot summer day, but no matter how much you drink, thirst returns again;
• frequent urge to urinate, which begins to bother you from the increased volume of water you drink;
• increased blood pressure;
• persistent fatigue and drowsiness;
• large weight gains (doctors are especially alarmed by an increase of over 300 g per week);
• increased appetite: you want to eat more often and more;
• increased sweating;
• muscle pain;
• slight increase in heart rate, sometimes dizziness;
• change in stool density, its dilution;
• short-term blurred vision;
• irritation of the skin, obsessive desire to comb it.

Diagnosis of elevated glucose levels in urine

If a woman notices one or more symptoms of elevated sugar levels in the urine, it is necessary to confirm this with tests. Diagnostics can be carried out right at home using disposable test strips.

The most common methods for determining glucose levels in urine:

• express method. Its essence is to immerse the test strip to wet the reagents into a container with fresh urine and then evaluate the result (comparing the colored end with the scale in the instructions);

  
  Test strips are used to determine the level of glucose and acetone in daily urine or half-hour portions

• general urine analysis. It is necessary to submit an average portion of morning urine to a medical facility;
• analysis of daily sugar loss in urine. One day should start from 6 am (the first portion of urine is not collected) until 6 am to urinate in a sterile container, after which the entire volume of urine is mixed, and a portion of 100 ml is poured, which is submitted for analysis to the laboratory indicating the total volume of urine excreted per day;
• urine analysis according to Zimnitsky. To use this method you will need 8 sterile containers. The collection of urine in containers begins at 9 am - from this time until 12 noon, the first container is filled with urine. At 12 o'clock it is closed with a lid, signed (you must indicate the time of collection, for example, from 9:00 to 12:00) and placed in the refrigerator. Over the next three hours until 15:00, fill the second container with urine. Thus, the collection jars are changed every three hours, until 9 am the next day. Then all containers are taken to the laboratory for analysis. This diagnosis reveals fluctuations in sugar levels over the course of a day, and also determines the density of urine.

Rules for submitting urine for analysis

To obtain a correct analysis result, it is necessary to correctly collect biological material - urine.

Here are the basic recommendations for collecting urine for general analysis:

1. Preparation the day before the test:
   try not to be nervous or overwork, because stress can also cause high sugar levels;
2. do not take diuretics and herbal decoctions used to combat edema;
3. do not include in food: spicy dishes, for example chili peppers, with a sugar content of more than 10 g per 100 g of product;
4. fruit for dinner;
5. brightly colored vegetables: beets (12.8 g of sugar per 100 g of product);
6. Cherry tomatoes are sour (8.5 g of sugar per 100 g of product). Brightly colored fruits can color urine and contain increased amounts of sugar.
7. On the day of the test:
   Wash the vaginal area thoroughly with water . Most often, with insufficient hygiene of the genital organs, urine tests reveal a protein that is present on the vaginal mucous membranes and enters the collected fluid if it has not been washed off before . And protein is also one of the signs of pathology;
8. blot the urine outlet with cotton wool or a disposable towel;
9. flush a small portion of urine down the toilet and collect the rest of the liquid in a sterile disposable container;

   
   A disposable container for collecting urine is sold in a pharmacy, costs about 10–15 rubles and saves you from sterilizing jars for testing

   Read also:  General urine analysis in infants, early and preschool children
10. try to deliver the analysis to the laboratory as soon as possible. The most informative analysis remains within 2 hours after collection.

Why does urine sugar increase in a pregnant woman?

The body undergoes primary purification of urine, during which glucose must pass through the bloodstream. During secondary purification, this substance is not detected in the absence of any pathologies.

Glucose in urine during pregnancy can be exceeded according to the norm:

• if the expectant mother has the first stages of development of gestational diabetes mellitus;
• there are problems with the endocrine system, thyroid pathologies;
• if the pancreas is inflamed;
• for renal and hepatic dysfunction;
• for skull injuries affecting metabolic disorders.

The most common problem with the presence of glucose in the urine in pregnant women is kidney disease. But after taking the tests, elevated levels of glucose are detected only in the urine, the blood readings remain unchanged.

In half of the cases, sugar in the urine during pregnancy causes the deviation from the norm to be hidden in a violation of the diet. During pregnancy, a woman consumes carbohydrate foods in unlimited quantities. But in this case, the norm of sugar in the urine will be slightly exceeded, which only allows you to adjust your food intake to eliminate pathologies.

During pregnancy, there are risks of developing diabetes, which are influenced by the following factors:

1. age. Middle-aged women, especially those giving birth for the first time, are more susceptible to glucose disturbances;
2. if gestational diabetes developed during a previous pregnancy;
3. if the woman has had a miscarriage or stillbirth;
4. in a previous pregnancy, the woman gave birth to a child with serious defects;
5. if the fetus was too large during a previous pregnancy;
6. birth of more than two children;
7. the water broke in large quantities;
8. other prerequisites for the onset of diabetes development.

If one or more risk factors are present, the expectant mother should consult an endocrinologist to begin monitoring sugar levels until delivery.

Important. Experts note that 96% of women get rid of gestational diabetes after childbirth, the remaining 4% then have a chronic form.

What are the dangers of high sugar levels during pregnancy?

Increased sugar levels in the urine can be a one-time occurrence due to a diet disorder, overeating sweets for dinner, or improper urine collection. However, for a pregnant woman and fetus, constantly elevated sugar levels are dangerous in the following ways:

1. For the expectant mother:
   after the 20th week of pregnancy, with a reduced level of the hormone estrogen, gestosis may worsen with pressure surges, body edema and large increases in body weight;
2. there is a risk of transition of gestational diabetes to chronic diabetes of the 2nd degree after childbirth;
3. the likelihood of thrombosis increases. Pregnant women, with their low mobility and hormonal disorders, are already susceptible to an increase in blood viscosity, and with diabetes, in combination with high blood pressure with vascular spasms, blood mobility is reduced;
4. the likelihood of miscarriage or miscarriage increases;
5. childbirth most often occurs with complications: the water breaks out too early;
6. the threat of delivery by cesarean section increases in 35% of cases due to the discrepancy between the enlarged size of the fetus and the mother’s pelvis, or the use of vacuum systems or obstetric forceps, which can leave a birth injury to the fetus. Most often, such methods are used to reduce the fetal heart rate during labor.
7. For the fetus:
   there is a possibility of developing polyhydramnios, in which the fetus will not receive enough oxygen or may become wrapped in the umbilical cord and completely cut off its access to nutrition. The risk of developing polyhydramnios in diabetes reaches 60%;
8. the fetus is rapidly gaining body weight, which is why the woman may not be able to give birth herself. When the fetal weight exceeds 4–4.5 kg, they speak of its macrosomia;
9. The internal organs of the fetus develop with disturbances. The most vulnerable are blood vessels, nervous regulation and visual perception;
10. there is a discrepancy between the fetus and the gestational age, delayed development due to metabolic disorders in the “fetus-placenta” system;
11. the fetus receives glucose due to the activity of the placenta, but does not receive enough insulin, which is fraught with metabolic disorders in the newborn.
12. For a newborn:
    increased muscle tone;
13. mental retardation;
14. weakness of physical capabilities; children master motor skills, rolling over, and crawling later and worse;
15. underdeveloped sucking reflex, which may cause problems with breastfeeding;
16. decreased functioning of the cardiac and visual systems;
17. asphyxia - suffocation due to hypoxia in the womb;
18. metabolic disorders. Such children are not only born larger than others, but also maintain increased body weight during the first years of life. The likelihood of disruption of the formation of enzymes by the pancreas and the development of diabetes mellitus in the child or the insensitivity of his body to insulin increases;
19. Jaundice develops due to increased levels of bilirubin in the blood.

Monitoring high glucose levels in routine tests prescribed by a doctor at each examination of a pregnant woman allows for successful correction.

Video: doctor on the consequences of gestational diabetes

Can gestational diabetes become chronic after childbirth?

Under favorable conditions, gestational diabetes ends with pregnancy. But 10–15% of women who have had this type of diabetes remain at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes even 10 years after giving birth. You can avoid this only by regularly checking your body:

• 2 weeks, 1 and 1.5 months after birth, check blood and urine for sugar levels;
• 3 months after birth, take a glycated hemoglobin test, which determines whether there were glucose fluctuations above normal over the last three months before the test;
• At least once every three years, during normal tests, check your sugar level.

Treatment

In a pregnant woman, the increase in sugar in the urine may disappear (normalize) several months after birth, but the existing indicators cannot be ignored. If deviations from the norm are detected in time after analysis during pregnancy and additional research is carried out, it will be possible to quickly determine the cause of the disease, accurately diagnosing it. You can take medications for gestational diabetes only if you significantly exceed the norm.

It is imperative to follow a diet that maintains the supply of glucose in optimal quantities. For this purpose, pregnant women limit their consumption of sweet, salty foods and honey.

It is recommended to adhere to the principles of proper food selection, which includes differentiation in the consumption of carbohydrate and fatty foods. Fiber and starch are not eaten. High-calorie foods that contain large amounts of vegetable fats and artificial additives are excluded.

Special exercises for light physical activity are indicated for a pregnant woman with high sugar in the urine. This helps lower sugar in urine and blood. You need to constantly be in motion, which does not put too much strain on the pregnant woman. Exceeding the normal level of sugar in the urine of a pregnant woman can lead to the onset of pain in the lumbar region.

Important. In case of serious pathologies, normalization of nutrition with physical activity does not contribute to a significant decrease in glucose levels in the body of a pregnant woman. To do this, the woman will need to take insulin.

There is no reason for premature panic, since increased sugar in the urine in pregnant women is normal. This indicator changes after the birth of a child in almost all cases. If necessary, doctors bring the indicators back to normal after the diagnosis. Of course, maintaining glucose capacity at the proper level is necessary before delivery. To do this, you do not need to take medications or strictly limit yourself. If you do not follow the doctor's recommendations, complications may begin that lead to deterioration in fetal development.

Video on glucose levels during pregnancy

During pregnancy, hormonal changes occur in a woman's body. This is necessary for the proper development of the fetus and preparation of the expectant mother for the upcoming birth. All glands of the endocrine system are involved in this process, including the pancreas, which produces insulin. Sometimes metabolic processes fail, body tissues lose sensitivity to the protein hormone, glucose is poorly absorbed, and its concentration in the blood and urine increases. Women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Therapy methods

If it is confirmed that a pregnant woman has diabetes, the sugar level must be urgently reduced. This process will require changes in eating habits and, if necessary, the use of medications.

Diet and lifestyle for high urine sugar levels

Most often, the threat of diabetes hangs over those whose weight is significantly higher than normal. Regular physical activity is necessary to lose weight. Any load to which the body responds well is suitable. If you like to walk, choose walking in the fresh air for 40 minutes, swimming - water aerobics in the pool, meditating and stretching - yoga in special groups for pregnant women. Of course, your doctor should be aware of your exercise habits.

Nutrition for diabetes is quite limited, but not meager. Initially, everyone who follows the Diabetic Diet 9 will experience weight loss. But gradually, thanks to her, the woman’s test results, weight and well-being return to normal.

Adhering to diet No. 9 is useful for all mothers who suffer from excess weight after childbirth. It is divided into 2 types:

• Diet No. 9-a is suitable for patients with mild to moderate diabetes who do not take medications that balance blood sugar, as well as for obese people. The daily caloric intake is 1700 kcal with 120 g of carbohydrates per day;
• diet No. 9-b - suitable for patients with severe insulin-dependent diabetes. Its energy value is about 2700–3100 kcal per day, the share of carbohydrates in the diet is expanded to 400–500 g, they are used not only in main meals, but also as snacks for second breakfast and afternoon snack.

Table: allowed and prohibited foods in diet No. 9 for diabetes mellitus

Based on the weight of the pregnant woman and the level of glucose in her blood, the endocrinologist will select the daily calorie content of dishes that can be cooked by steaming or stewing with a small amount of vegetable oil . The daily amount of calories is distributed according to energy value into 5–6 meals in the following proportions:

• 20% should be for breakfast;
• 10% - for second breakfast;
• 30% - for lunch;
• 10% - afternoon snack;
• 20% - dinner;
• 10% on overnight meals.

Doctors strongly recommend keeping a food diary to monitor the success of the diet and ensure compliance with all conditions. The diet should be followed throughout pregnancy and 8 weeks after birth, even with normal sugar levels.

A friend of mine suffered from gestational diabetes and pricked all her fingers with a glucometer during her pregnancy. She managed her high blood sugar levels by dieting and not using insulin injections. After giving birth, she got so used to some dietary restrictions that she continued to follow them with a deficit of calories and sweets, so she quickly got into shape and began to look even better than before pregnancy.

Video: endocrinologist on ways to lower sugar levels and the need for insulin therapy

Drug therapy for diabetes

If sugar levels cannot be reduced through diet, the pregnant woman is prescribed insulin injections. The drug is also prescribed if, according to ultrasound results, there are signs of fetopathy with impaired functioning of the kidneys, pancreas, and vascular system.

The need for insulin is less in the first 12 weeks of the embryo's life, but by the 2nd trimester and until birth it constantly increases. After childbirth, the selected dose of insulin is gradually reduced so as not to critically lower the glucose level and not cause an attack of hypoglycemia.

Pre-filled insulin pens are designed for subcutaneous injection of the substance into the anterior abdominal wall, anterior thigh, upper arm, deltoid or buttock area. However, it is better to choose the area of ​​the anterior abdominal wall, where the subcutaneous fatty tissue is thinner, which means the absorption rate of the drug is faster.

Different types of insulin are used for therapy, the doses of which are always selected individually by the doctor. To begin with, select a dose of a long-acting drug for a single administration during the day. If it fails, then short-acting insulin is additionally prescribed, used before each meal. After the administration of insulin, a high-carbohydrate meal should immediately follow, and the next meal should be taken 3 hours later, when the injected insulin is fully absorbed and active.

Insulin groups by time of action:

1. Long acting:
   Levemir FlexPen with the active ingredient insulin detemir. Therapy with such insulin is superior to therapy with intermediate-acting isophane insulin, because fasting glucose concentrations at 24 and 36 weeks of pregnancy are lower in those who took insulin determir;
2. Lantus Solostar with the active ingredient insulin glargine. Compared to isophane insulin therapy, this insulin is absorbed over a longer period of time and does not cause a sharp drop in sugar levels.
3. Short acting:
   Humalog Mix 50 with the active ingredient insulin lispro. Humalog Mix 50 is a ready-made mixture consisting of a fast-acting insulin solution and a medium-acting insulin suspension;
4. Apidra SoloStar with the active ingredient insulin glulisine. It is fast-acting (begins to act after 10–20 minutes), but the effect of use does not last long - from 1 to 3 hours;
5. NovoRapid FlexPen with the active ingredient insulin aspart. Due to its short duration of action compared to human insulin, the risk of developing nighttime low blood sugar levels is markedly reduced, which means your blood sugar levels will be even at night and your sleep will be restful.

Photo gallery: insulin preparations to lower blood sugar levels during pregnancy

Treatment methods

What to do if you find high sugar during pregnancy, how to lower the level of glycemia in the blood of a pregnant woman? The doctor prescribes a low-carbohydrate diet, physical activity, and strictly monitors glycemic parameters.

How can you lower blood sugar during pregnancy? Meals should be fractional, you need to follow a sleep and rest schedule, most of the diet should consist of fresh vegetables, fruits, dietary meats, and fish. Calorie content is calculated based on 30 kcal per 1 kilogram of body weight.

What foods increase blood sugar in pregnant women, and what lowers glycemia during pregnancy? The prohibited category includes foods containing light carbohydrates that are quickly digested and enter the bloodstream. These are sweets, white bread, semolina, rice, grapes, banana, fruit juices, fresh juices, raisins, dates, alcoholic drinks. It is useful to eat cabbage, buckwheat, pearl barley, wheat, all green vegetables, most fruits, and dairy products. When prescribing therapy, the endocrinologist will help create a diet for the expectant mother.

If such measures do not help reduce hyperglycemia, regular insulin injections are prescribed. The dosage is determined by the doctor.

The condition of a pregnant woman’s body is monitored using tests and instrumental studies. Particularly common is a general urine test, which is taken before each scheduled appointment with the observing gynecologist. The biomaterial is assessed according to a number of criteria, and one of the important ones is glucose level. It is from the importance of sugar in urine during pregnancy that a specialist can assess the condition of the expectant mother and the risk of diabetes.

Preventing Gestational Diabetes

If you know the causes of gestational diabetes, then it is easy to determine measures to prevent its development. Here are the main ones:

1. Normalization of weight and its gradual reduction without fasting using foods allowed for diabetes.
2. Periodic monitoring of sugar levels to compensate for lack of insulin if necessary.

   
   Measuring blood sugar levels in diabetes is indicated at least 4 times a day with recording of the results in a special journal

3. Equalization of pressure levels. High blood pressure creates ideal conditions for increased sugar levels.
4. Physical activity. It is worth going in for sports only if there is no tone, high blood pressure and pregnancy is not complicated. Any load evens out blood sugar levels.

There is a special knowledge course “Diabetes School”, which can be taken in clinics or family centers. During the classes, you will be explained in detail the rules for self-monitoring your glucose levels at home using a glucometer or express strips, and will also explain the necessary dietary restrictions.

What are the dangers of gestational diabetes for a woman?

High sugar in the urine during pregnancy leads to the destruction of tissue of the placenta and ovaries, which can have serious consequences for mother and child. The production of the hormone estrogen is disrupted, and late toxicosis develops. Typically, this condition is diagnosed after the 20th week of pregnancy. In addition, women experience severe swelling, increased blood pressure, and rapid weight gain.

What are the dangers of high blood and urine sugar during pregnancy, and how dangerous is an increased level of glycemia? A high concentration of glucose causes aging of placental tissue, oxygen deficiency occurs, and fetal nutrition is disrupted. This can lead to spontaneous abortion or congenital abnormalities of the child.

Increased sugar in the body during pregnancy negatively affects the amniotic membranes, and polyhydramnios occurs as a negative consequence. The baby may take an incorrect position before birth, and the umbilical cord will be torsioned, which can lead to fetal hypoxia. If these abnormalities are detected, women undergo a caesarean section.

Reviews from women who experienced increased sugar in their urine during pregnancy

At least 10% of women experience gestational diabetes during pregnancy, so there are a lot of reviews on this problem on the Internet.

Many of us know people who suffer from diabetes. During pregnancy, the manifestations of this disease are especially dangerous, because it will spread to two organisms at once (if diabetes is not compensated). That is why, during the period of bearing a child, it is important for a woman to undergo all the necessary tests on time and be sure to check the sugar level in the urine. If you are at risk, then even before conception you should visit an endocrinologist. Only in this case will the pregnancy pass without complications, and the child will be born healthy.

Hello! My name is Valentina. I am 29 years old. An engineer by education. Rate this article: Share with friends!

What are the dangers of gestational diabetes for a baby?

Elevated sugar during pregnancy is dangerous not only for the expectant mother, but also for the baby. Babies are often born large (macrosomia), which causes difficult births. Congenital malformations of the cardiovascular, nervous and other systems are often detected.

Children are often stillborn or die during the first weeks of life due to problems with the functioning of the lungs or heart.

What are the dangers for a child from increased urine and blood sugar in pregnant women? How dangerous is a high level of glycemia? Gestational diabetes can cause diabetic fetopathy in the baby. The disease is characterized by disruption of the pancreas, kidneys, and circulatory disorders.

Children born with high birth weight and whose mothers had diabetes are at risk for diabetes. Such babies are more at risk of developing severe pathology and the complications it leads to.

How to remove sugar from the body?

If sugar in the urine during pregnancy occurs due to the natural load on the body, and not due to the development of pathologies, then you can try to normalize the condition yourself. To do this, you should adhere to the right diet, which helps control weight and not retain glucose in the body. A conditional diet for high sugar has the following rules:

1. Limiting foods with fast carbohydrates. These include rich pastries, chocolate, white bread, sweets in the form of candies, cakes, and carbonated drinks.
2. Despite the benefits of plant-based foods, they also contain carbohydrates that negatively affect sugar levels. For example, potatoes, carrots, corn, grapes.
3. You need to eat often, but in small portions.
4. You can pay attention to the glycemic index of foods, the recommended indicator is less than 50 points.

It is not possible to significantly reduce sugar in urine during pregnancy by just changing your diet, but this will be enough to normalize many metabolic processes. We should not forget about moderate physical activity during pregnancy and special gymnastics, as they also help remove excess glucose from the body.

Causes of high sugar levels

During the period of bearing a baby, glucose levels may rise, which is explained by natural processes in the body, which is under serious stress. Conditions such as gestational diabetes are diagnosed. Pathologies require observation, although in more than 95% of cases they disappear immediately after birth.

Sugar in the urine during pregnancy appears due to the following reasons:

1. Poor nutrition. This is food containing a lot of carbohydrates, lack of control over the amount eaten, and the presence of harmful foods in the diet.
2. Diabetes mellitus in latent form. It is rare and suggests the presence of problems even before pregnancy.
3. Disorders of the thyroid gland and the endocrine system as a whole.
4. Malfunction of the kidneys. This may be caused by the development of pathological processes or the inability of organs to efficiently cope with the increased load and process glucose. It is for these reasons that sugar appears in the urine during pregnancy, but not in the blood.

To determine the causes, as well as to establish the very fact of a constantly elevated glucose level, repeated urine tests are prescribed and blood tests are performed. A glucose tolerance test may be recommended and is considered routine up to 28 weeks.