How effective are urine strips in testing for diabetes?

Good initial sign.: Urine strips are reasonably effective and reliable to the point that, if consistently positive, you might want to worked up by your doctor for some form of diabetes. Having said that, they should not be relied upon if they are old, and are no substitue for a work-up by your doctor, who can do this and get numeric readings of glucose and hba1c that can clinch a diagnosis as well as direct therapy.

Very effective and: Reliable to demonstrate sugar and ketones in urine.