What causes protein to be found in urine?

The kidneys' function is to remove the waste in our blood by acting as filters. These filters (called glomeruli) prevent the excretion of the protein in the blood. Normal kidneys excrete very small amounts of protein in the urine. Albumin is the most common protein in the urine. Persistent increased amount of albumin in the urine (high ACR) is a sensitive early marker of kidney disease. It reflects damage to the glomeruli which causes them to become more “leaky” with subsequent loss of albumin from the blood into the urine - albuminuria.

Glucose in the urine (also known as glycosuria) is associated with diabetes. I would highly recommend doing a fasting blood glucose to screen for diabetes should there be glucose in the urine. Protein in the urine (also known as proteinuria) can be a sign of nephrotic syndrome, or an early sign of kidney disease. You may be more at risk for having it if you have one or more of the risk factors for kidney disease such as diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney disease.