First GP appointment and sample

Weird question,

Today I went to register at my local clinic. They made me an appointment to meet with the GP in a few weeks, however, gave me a vial and told me to brung a urine sample with me.

Is this standard?

Typically in the states that's done at the visit on site. And done with your yearly physical. From what the front desk told me, this would just be a history and talk type of meeting.

It depends on the office, but yes.  It is for diabetes.

There is no yearly physical here.

It was what happened at my first meeting-- used for diabetes check. I have found the norm here is when a sample is needed you bring it in from home.

But be careful what you put your sample in! DH once brought his in an old pop bottle. Evidently it wasn't rinsed out very well and they thought he had the worst diabetes ever 

sorry to butt into this thread but after they check out the urine sample, if they don't call you or tell you anything about it, is it assumed that you don't have diabetes?

sorry to butt into this thread but after they check out the urine sample, if they don't call you or tell you anything about it, is it assumed that you don't have diabetes?

Mine was checked right in the office during the appointment.

hmm, mine was just taken and nobody ever mentioned anything about it again it's been a few months now. I'm assuming if something was wrong they'd let me know I suppose.

I would say you're OK on the urine test, but you can always double check next time you're at your GP- they can look up the results and confirm. 

Obviously, if you have diabetes symptoms - excessive thirst, excessive urination, being very lethargic, infections that don't seemingly go away, weight loss, thrush -get thee to the GP faster!


On a side note, I don't know why they use urine testing for Diabetes- that's very outdated.  Sure its a quick, painless (cheap!!) way to check - just a stick into the urine- colour change confirms sugar in the urine, but it's actually very far from clinical diagnosis of diabetes.  Diabetes is confirmed by two separate fasting plasma (blood) glucose tests - over readings over 7 mmol/L (126 mg/dl) - the kidneys don't actually 'spill' glucose into the urine until your blood sugars are 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dl)

So I can only fathom they do this for both Diabetes - (meaning-come back in for further testing, I hope?)  and for kidney function- Kidney disease is silent and many people don't realise they have it until its too late. You shouldn't have protein in your urine, so getting a dip stick finding protein in the urine is a key that something is awry there and needing further investigation. 

Do GPs test for these regularly (mine doesn't) - or is it a 'one off' kind of thing?  It should definitely be routinely (based upon your risk factors depends on how often) in my opinion. 

And no, I'm not a medical professional -but Diabetes is a big research interest of mine, did lots and lots of research in it for my biomedical engineering masters degree, work in a Diabetes research/development/manufacturing company, and volunteer with Diabetes UK and Children with Diabetes

Just wanted to add to what PB said....in addition to all the symptoms she listed, if you have a family history of diabetes you should definitely get yourself tested on a more regular basis.

My GP here has never tested me for diabetes.  But I went out and bought a glucose monitor from Boots for 20.00 that came with test strips and everything.  I just wanted to see because my grandfather had Type 2, although he never ever exercised and my Dad is fine.

My friend is a GP and they only use the urine to test for diabetes, at least at her practice.

I have never had a urine test with my current PCP in US. They do bloods once a year so diabetes would show up there. The last time I had a urine test (mid-stream!) years ago was for UTI.

Is it customary to give your sample at the clinic when it's your appointment time, or to bring it with you?

They gave me a vial, but it has no markings on it at all. So unsure, and yet, the thought of bringing my pee with me weirds me out lol.

I had to provide a sample at my last GP, though not the first one or the one I have now. I also had been given the vial, which is a joke, who can go in that?!

I brought mine in with me, which I think they expect you to do, wrapped in paper towels and put in a plastic baggie.

For me, I have to bring samples to my consultant every few months- If I remember to get a vial the last time, I will just pee into that, throw it in a bag and bring it along. If I don't remember, they have a cup I can pee into.  Not sure why they just don't say - provide a sample when you get here, I have to wait to see the consultant anyways and they take the pee straight away and test it. 

It's different for the GP though, as they do have to send it off.  So yeah,pee into a vial/cup/container at home, hand over the receptionist when you walk in.