Diabetes: People with diabetes often have too much sugar (glucose) in their blood. To get rid of the extra glucose, the body moves it from the blood into the urine. So, when someone has undiagnosed or untreated diabetes, they tend to pee more often. And their urine appears clear.
One of the most common changes in urine color associated with diabetes is a darker yellow color. This is because high blood sugar levels can cause your kidneys to work harder to filter out excess glucose, leading to more concentrated urine. In some cases, urine may even appear orange or brown.
What color is diabetic urine? Diabetes does not change the color of urine. If you notice sweet or fruity smelling urine, it could be a sign that you have hyperglycemia, or blood sugar levels that are too high. Let a healthcare provider know if you notice changes to either urine color or smell.
Individuals with poorly controlled diabetes have larger urine volumes and are more likely to have more urine than fits in a standard collection jug. They void more often compared to non-diabetics, so they have more opportunities to mishandle urine causing it to not be included.
If your urine is clear and you're not on a water pill or drinking a lot of water, it may signal an underlying kidney problem or possibly diabetes.
Excessive thirst and increased urination
When your kidneys can't keep up, the excess glucose is excreted into your urine, dragging along fluids from your tissues, which makes you dehydrated. This will usually leave you feeling thirsty. As you drink more fluids to quench your thirst, you'll urinate even more.
Clear urine tends to indicate that a person is well hydrated. It could also suggest that they are too hydrated. If a person has consumed a lot of liquids during the day, they may have too much water in their system.
Urinating more than 7-10 times a day could be a sign of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. According to the UK's National Health Services (NHS), the amount of urine can range from 3 litres in mild cases to up to 20 litres per day in severe cases of diabetes.
When your kidneys are failing, a high concentration and accumulation of substances lead to brown, red, or purple urine. Studies suggest the urine color is due to abnormal protein or sugar as well as high numbers of cellular casts and red and white blood cells.
Type 2 diabetes is a common condition that causes high blood sugar levels. Early signs and symptoms can include tiredness and hunger, frequent urination, increased thirst, vision problems, slow wound healing, and yeast infections.
Many people have type 2 diabetes for years without realising because the early symptoms tend to be general, or there are no symptoms at all.
The most optimal color for your urine is a pale yellow. If it is a darker yellow or orange, it can mean you are becoming dehydrated. An orange urine could indicate a serious liver condition. Darker brown can be caused by foods or medication.
“Normal urine is pale yellow to amber in color and is clear. Darker urine is often a sign of dehydration. If you notice that your urine is darker than normal and you have no other symptoms, try drinking some more water and see if this helps your urine return to a lighter color,” Alyssa said.
The issue is that, whilst urine colour can definitely be somewhat indicative of hydration status, there's definitely not a simple and linear relationship between actual hydration status and the colour of your pee.
The symptoms of diabetes include feeling very thirsty, passing more urine than usual, and feeling tired all the time. The symptoms occur because some or all of the glucose stays in your blood and isn't used as fuel for energy. Your body tries to get rid of the excess glucose in your urine.
Many people with diabetes will describe themselves as feeling tired, lethargic or fatigued at times. It could be a result of stress, hard work or a lack of a decent night's sleep but it could also be related to having too high or too low blood glucose levels.
Transparent: While clear urine isn't exactly a bad thing, it can be a sign that you've been drinking too much water. Getting your daily intake of H2O is a good thing, but not when you're flushing all the electrolytes out of your body. Dark Yellow: This is a normal color, but may mean you need to sip on some water.
When you're healthy and hydrated, your urine should fall somewhere between colorless and the color of light straw and honey. When you don't consume enough fluids, your urine becomes more concentrated and turns a darker yellow or amber color.