What condition can result from the increased filtered glucose during pregnancy?

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Study for the RNC Low Risk Neonatal (LRN) Nursing Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question offers hints and explanations. Ensure you're ready for your examination!

During pregnancy, hormonal changes lead to increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and changes in metabolic processes. One of the key changes involves the handling of glucose by the kidneys. As the filtered glucose exceeds the reabsorption capacity of the renal tubules, glucose spills into the urine, resulting in a condition known as glycosuria.

This phenomenon occurs even in healthy pregnant women due to the increased levels of glucose circulating in the blood along with the kidneys' altered reabsorption capabilities. Glycosuria can be considered a normal physiological response during pregnancy, particularly if the blood glucose levels are within a normal range.

While diabetes mellitus could certainly be a concern in pregnancy, it refers to a disease state characterized by prolonged hyperglycemia and not merely the presence of glucose in the urine. Hyperglycemia itself is an elevated glucose level in blood, but it does not directly lead to glucose accumulation in urine unless renal threshold exceeds blood glucose levels significantly. Proteinuria, on the other hand, indicates the presence of protein in the urine and is unrelated to glucose filtration. Thus, glycosuria is the most accurate answer as it directly correlates with the increased filtered glucose during pregnancy.

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