THE EXCRETION OF GLUCOSE DURING NORMAL PREGNANCY

Summary

Thirty healthy pregnant women took part in a serial study in which they collected 24-hour samples of urine for the estimation of glucose excretion at least 8 times during pregnancy and again post partum; for one week before the collection they tested their urine with “Clinistix” each time they passed it. Ten of the women showed no obviously increased glucose excretion during pregnancy. The other twenty excreted glucose in above normal amounts but with great variation both from subject to subject and in the same subject. The pattern of excretion shown by “Clinistix” was one of intermittent glycosuria. Days and groups of days in which glycosuria was the rule were separated by similar periods without it. The value of routine urine testing for glucose in pregnancy is questioned.