What happens to specific gravity in cases of diabetes mellitus?

In cases of diabetes mellitus, the specific gravity of urine typically increases. This is primarily due to the presence of high levels of glucose in the urine, a condition known as glucosuria, which occurs when the blood glucose level exceeds the renal threshold for glucose reabsorption. As glucose is excreted in the urine, it adds to the overall solute concentration, thereby increasing the specific gravity of the urine. Higher specific gravity indicates that the urine is more concentrated, which is characteristic of conditions where solutes like glucose and possibly ketones are present in excess. Therefore, in a patient with diabetes mellitus, one would expect to see an increased specific gravity as a reflection of the high concentration of these solutes in the urine.