| How the Drug Works | | | | inconsistent with expected findings: |
| Glucose does not normally appear in the urine, but | | | | Confirm that product is within expiration date shown on |
| when too much glucose builds up in the blood, the | | | | label or foil. Check performance with a positive control. |
| excess spills over from the kidney into the urine where | | | | If proper result is not obtained, discard and retest with |
| it can be detected by specially designed plastic test | | | | a fresh tablet. |
| strips and reagent tablets containing chemicals which | | | | Tablets: Sugars other than glucose will cause a |
| detect glucose in urine. Color changes occur according | | | | positive test result. These sugars include: Lactose, |
| to the amount of sugar present. | | | | fructose, galactose, and pentose. |
| Regular monitoring of glucose levels aids in the control | | | | Ketones: High levels of ketones may cause false |
| of diabetes. It will help determine medication, exercise | | | | positive test results for urine containing small amounts |
| and dietary needs and help decrease complications | | | | of glucose. |
| (eg, kidney and eye problems) and problems during | | | | Drug Interactions |
| pregnancy. | | | | Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or |
| Ketones appear in the urine when the body breaks | | | | planning to take any overthe-counter or prescription |
| down body fats to use as a source of energy or food. | | | | medication or dietary supplements while testing for |
| This can occur in fasting individuals, outof-control | | | | urine glucose. The following drugs and drug classes |
| diabetics and individuals on starvation diets. Proteins in | | | | may interact with the test to cause questionable |
| the urine may be an early sign of kidney disease. | | | | results: |
| Uses | | | | Aspirin (large amounts) |
| To detect glucose in urine. | | | | Riboflavin |
| To aid diabetics in monitoring medication regimens, diet | | | | Nalidixic acid (Neg Gram) |
| and exercise programs. | | | | Sulfa drugs (eg, sulfonamides) |
| To help prevent the development of complications and | | | | Nitrofurantoin (eg, Furadantin) |
| problems during pregnancy. | | | | Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) |
| Avoid contact with skin, mucous membranes or | | | | Phenazopyridine (eg, Pyridium) |
| clothing. If contact occurs, flush the affected area with | | | | Guidelines for Use |
| large amounts of water. If test strips, tape, or tablets | | | | Follow instructions on the label exactly. |
| are eaten or rubbed in the eyes, contact your doctor | | | | Glucose is not normally detected in urine. |
| or local poison control center immediately. If eaten, do | | | | Monitor urine for glucose and ketones as prescribed. |
| not induce vomiting; instead, drink large amounts of | | | | Monitor urine ketones if your blood glucose level has |
| water or milk. If contact with the eyes occurs, flush | | | | been greater than 300 mg/dL for 2 consecutive blood |
| with water for 15 minutes. Get prompt medical | | | | glucose determinations. Blood glucose monitoring is |
| attention. | | | | recommended to achieve normal blood sugar levels. |
| Specimen Collection and Handling: Collect fresh urine in | | | | Keep track of your blood glucose results so that |
| a clean, dry container and test as soon as possible. | | | | adjustments in your treatment program can be made |
| (An alternate method is to pass the test strips directly | | | | more easily. |
| through the urine stream). If testing cannot be done | | | | Participate in a thorough diabetes education program |
| within an hour after collection, refrigerate. Let it return | | | | so that you understand diabetes and all aspects of its |
| to room temperature before testing. Prolonged | | | | treatment, including diet, exercise, personal hygiene, and |
| exposure of unpreserved urine to room temperature | | | | how to self-monitor blood or urine glucose. |
| (59° to 86°F) may result in bacterial contamination | | | | Diabetics - Monitor glucose: When you have a cold, the |
| and bacterial consumption of the glucose. Urine | | | | flu or any other kind of illness. When you "feel" the |
| preservatives may also affect the accuracy of test | | | | signs of high blood sugar (more than 240 mg/dL) or |
| results. | | | | when your blood sugar is well over the range your |
| Storage and Handling: For bottled strips-Store at room | | | | doctor has set for you (if you do blood glucose |
| temperature (59° to 86 F). Do not store the bottle in | | | | monitoring). |
| direct sunlight. Protect from light, heat, and moisture. | | | | When you are under unusual physical or emotional |
| Keep unused test strips in the original bottle with the | | | | stress. |
| cap tightly closed. Always replace the cap immediately | | | | During pregnancy after a testing pattern has been |
| and tightly. A new bottle of test strips can be used for | | | | established with your doctor or educator. |
| 6 months after first being opened. Always write the | | | | Have all the materials you need before beginning the |
| date you first opened the bottle on the bottle label. Do | | | | test: Test strips, timer (stopwatch or watch with a |
| not use the product after the expiration date. Use of | | | | second hand), and a clean dry container. |
| strips beyond the expiration date may yield inaccurate | | | | Color vision is needed to properly read test results. |
| test results. Never transfer strips to another bottle. Do | | | | Have someone else confirm the test results if in doubt. |
| not remove drying agent from the bottle. The agent | | | | If test results seem questionable, check expiration date |
| absorbs moisture and keeps the strips dry. Never put | | | | on the label, repeat the test using a new test strip or |
| cotton or other materials in the bottle. If test areas are | | | | tablet and a fresh urine specimen. |
| discolored or darkened, throw the strip away and use | | | | If your are unable to identify the cause of a low or high |
| a strip from a new bottle. | | | | test result, contact your doctor or diabetes educator. |
| For tablets - Tablets have prolonged stability in the | | | | Know the symptoms of hypergly cemia (high blood |
| unopened container if stored at room temperature | | | | sugar), which include thirst, hunger and frequent and |
| between 59° and 86°F. Do not refrigerate. Do not | | | | excessive urination and those of hypoglycemia (low |
| store in direct sunlight. Once the bottle is opened, | | | | blood sugar), which include trembling, sweating, blurred |
| protect from moisture. Excessive moisture may cause | | | | vision, rapid heartbeat, and tingling or numbness around |
| a chemical reaction and a bottle explosion may occur. | | | | mouth or fingertips. |
| Use tablets on a regular basis and do not store for | | | | Individuals with high uric acid, bilirubin cholesterol, |
| extended periods of time after the bottle is opened. | | | | triglyceride, or hematocrit levels may have lowered |
| Recap the bottle tightly immediately after removing a | | | | glucose levels. |
| tablet. Tablets in foil must be used immediately upon | | | | Diabetes education may be obtained through your local |
| opening. Protect tablets from light, heat and moisture. | | | | chapter of the American Diabetes Association. |
| Do not open the bottle in a steamy bathroom. Moisture | | | | Some of these items can cause burns. Avoid contact |
| causes tablets to turn a deeper shade of blue. If | | | | with skin, eyes, mucous membranes, and clothing. |
| tablets darken or if test results seem questionable or | | | | Keep away from children. |