Science Activity: Glucose Test Challenge

February 9, 2026

Welcome to the Future Scientists Club!

Welcome to the Future Scientists Club! This is the very first experiment in our new science series, created to connect our community with diabetes research and inspire the next generation of scientists.

Today, you’ll use the scientific method to test foods and drinks and uncover hidden sugars like a real scientist. This experiment is for curious kids of all ages—just remember to get a grown-up’s okay before you start.

You’ll:

Make a prediction (hypothesis)
Run an experiment
Collect data
Think about what your results mean

Let’s get started!

Click here for printable instructions!

Objective: What’s the goal?

You’re going to test foods and drinks to see which ones have the most glucose (a type of sugar).

This is important to learn because:

People with diabetes sometimes need quick glucose if their blood sugar gets too low.
Other times, they may choose foods that won’t raise blood sugar too fast, like diet soda instead of regular soda.

Let’s find out which foods are high in glucose!

Hypothesis: Make a Prediction

Before you start, make a prediction (your best guess based on what you know).

Which food or drink do you think will have the most glucose?
Which do you think will have the least?

Write down your ideas. This is called a hypothesis.

Materials: What you’ll need

6 different foods and drinks such as:
- Regular soda
- Diet soda
- Orange juice
- Maple Syrup
- Ketchup
- Almond Milk

You can swap any of these out for food/drinks that you have at home and are curious about.

2. Eight cups

3. Water

4. Glucose tablets (Can’t find glucose tablets? You can use sugar water instead. Mix 1 teaspoon of sugar into ½ cup of warm water and stir well. Sugar isn’t exactly the same as glucose, but it still contains glucose and will cause the test strip to change color.)

5. Urine Glucose test strips (Don’t let the name worry you! There’s no urine! These are special strips that are made to change color when glucose is present in urine, vs other glucose strips which test blood. Advances in technology have made these strips less common in stores but you can still find them online, at pet stores, or at science supply stores)

6. Stopwatch

7. Crayons or colored pencils (optional, for recording results)

Method: Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Set Up Your Cups

Place 8 cups on a table.
If you want, label each cup with what will go inside.

Step 2: Make a “No Sugar” Test (Negative Control)

Fill one cup with plain water.
Dip one test strip into the water.
Wait 30 seconds.
Look at the color and record what you see.

This cup should not change color. It shows what “no glucose” looks like.

Step 3: Make a “Lots of Sugar” Test (Positive Control)

Fill a new cup with water.
Add one glucose tablet.
Stir until it dissolves.
Dip a new test strip into the cup.
Wait 30 seconds, then record the color.

This shows what glucose definitely looks like on a test strip.

Step 4: Test Your Foods and Drinks

Put each food or drink into its own cup (you don’t need to fill them all the way).
Use a new test strip for each cup.
Dip the strip into the liquid so the colored square is fully covered. (Use a paper towel to wipe off excess liquid for things like ketchup so that you can see the color of the test strip.)
Wait 30 seconds.
Observe the color and record it.

Step 5: Read the Results

Look at the color chart on the test strip package.
Match your test strip color to the chart.
Write down how much glucose each food or drink has.

Use the chart below to record what you found:

Conclusion: Think Like a Scientist

Answer these questions:

Which food or drink had the most glucose?
Which had the least?
Were any results surprising?
Was your prediction correct?

What Did You Learn?

What did this experiment teach you about sugar in foods?
How might this information help someone with diabetes?
What food or drink would you want to test next?

Fun fact: You can keep extra test strips with you to double-check that a soda is really diet/sugar-free

Tell Us What You Think!

Did you enjoy this experiment?
What would you like to test or learn about next? Let us know! krhoads@diabetesresearchconnection.org

For grown-ups:

This activity is inspired by ongoing diabetes research. Click here to learn more about the science we’re currently funding through seed grants at Diabetes Research Connection.

Meet Our Researchers!