Tip for those doing 1 Hour Glucose Challenge Test

KarlsSweetie05 · January 2011

I just had to do my 3 hour test this morning as I failed my 1 hour. I overheard this conversation in the next cubicle and thought I would share....

I heard the nurse tell another lady who was doing her 1 hour test that she could eat 25-30? (not sure of exact #) jelly beans in 5 minutes instead of drinking the god-awful drink.

Wish they had told me that when I did my 1 hour!!!! The 1 hour drink is awful. Let's not even talk about the 3 hour drink - it was down right horrible.

So when it was my turn, I asked if I could eat jelly beans for the 3 hour test too and nurse said no, its only available for the 1 hour test. dang it!

Anyway, thought I would post in case it would be an option for anyone else out there and its offered at your clinic/hospital. Doesn't hurt to ask. I'd much rather eat a handful of jelly beans than drink the drink.

muddin_lil_sis · January 2011

I go for mine in 3 weeks and DREAD drinking the nasty stuff. The jelly beans are a good alternative, but I don't even like those. =( I wonder if there are any other little substitutes we don't know about

tokenhoser · January 2011

There was no jelly bean option for me, but I didn't find the drink that bad. Some people have said to bring a straw to help get it down fast.

Good luck with your 3-hour test! I was glad to dodge that. It sounds miserable.

Lisa Frank · January 2011

That jelly bean thing isn't an option everywhere. I've had to drink the glucola several times and while it's not the greatest tasting thing in the world, I don't rate it as horrible like so many others do. It just tastes like flat orange pop, extra sugary. Maybe I'm used to it. haha.

KarlsSweetie05 · January 2011

Oh, and of the 3 available flavors (lemon-lime, orange, and fruit punch), I tried the lemon-lime flavor both times.

I was advised by both a friend and the nurse to avoid the fruit punch flavor as its super duper, over the top sweet and was the hardest for ladies to drink.

The nurse said the lemon lime flavor is like sprite - um, yeah, not really, but I tried to convince my mind that it was a sprite, lo.

I don't drink pop/soda often so I'm not used to the sweetness in general, so I was really put off by the drinks.

Hope that helps.

RGWalsh · January 2011

I would much rather eat jelly beans but have never heard of this option before. Are you sure the nurse was serious? I have not had mine yet and am not looking forward to it. Two of my friends (who are moms) said that they almost gagged on the drink.

EJensify · January 2011

Interesting. Huh?

I drank mine very cold last time and was OK. I've had worse things in my mouth....

CharBart · January 2011

Never heard of the jelly bean thing...could be a good alternative. The orange for the 1hr is not that bad as long as it is super cold....mine went down easy and gave me a slurpee headache. Just a little too sweet after taste.

MrsD1 · January 2011

My drink wasn't bad at all. It tasted like orange Hi-C.

Mrs.Saxy · January 2011

I didn't mind the drink. It's better when it's colder. The one I had with DS1 was like a thick Orange Crush. I haven't had one for this pregnancy yet.

kcnurse77 · January 2011

I work at an OB/Gyn office and we only use the jelly bean subsitution in rare cases when a patient has a severe problem (a pt with Multiple Sclerosis who cant drink the drink in the allotted 5 min) or a woman with hyperemesis who cant keep the drink down. It is not believed to be as accurate as the Glucola, so like I said....only in rare cases. Most of the times for women who have vomiting problems we can pre-medicate with anti-nausea meds so they can do the drink.

I have never thought the drink was too bad. To me, it takes like regular orange soda with extra sugar and without carbonation. Dont freak out about it if you are first time mom.... after all, there are much more worse things in pregnancy/childbirth than the drink!

sparkymcgeee · January 2011

I really don't think the drink is that bad. I don't know if you had the orange or the fruit punch but the fruit punch was easy. Its not a drink I would choose to have everyday but its not the worst thing in the world. Besides, you can just chug it down and then its over. People freak out too much about this.

BabyBebe1 · January 2011

EJensify:
Interesting. I drank mine very cold last time and was OK. I've had worse things in my mouth....

HAHA. This made me day. Completely agree.

Lisa Frank · January 2011

meimsx:
I really don't think the drink is that bad. I don't know if you had the orange or the fruit punch but the fruit punch was easy. Its not a drink I would choose to have everyday but its not the worst thing in the world. Besides, you can just chug it down and then its over. People freak out too much about this.

Sounds like she chose the wrong flavor. Lemon-lime sounds disgusting. lol The orange is not bad at all!

KarlsSweetie05 · January 2011

I was told I could not take Zofran nor Zantac before either test (1 hour or 3 hour).

I told the nurse both times that I still have a hard time keeping food/liquids down even at this later stage and take both medicines before I eat. She said there was nothing they could do to help with that. She said if I threw it up, then I'd have to come back another day to retest.

I managed to keep both drinks down, but the 3 hour was much harder.... and the 3 hour drink was a 100% worse than the 1 hour drink.

The effects of the drink were a lot worse too - heart racing, hands shaking, sweating, diarrehea, major nausea, and the strong urge to puke. I assume its because I had to fast for 12 hours before the test. My stomach was queasy when I woke up this morning.

Interesting how the process / policy varies by doctor/clinic/hospital.

DonnaMartinGraduates · January 2011

meimsx:

I really don't think the drink is that bad. I don't know if you had the orange or the fruit punch but the fruit punch was easy. Its not a drink I would choose to have everyday but its not the worst thing in the world. Besides, you can just chug it down and then its over. People freak out too much about this.

Word. I don't get it...

mrbear83 · January 2011

I have my test in 3 weeks, but took home the bottle of stuff today. THANKFULLY it's the kind that tastes like melted orange popsicle, so I'm in good company. I'm one of the people that can drink straight grenadine, so I'll be chugging it! Hope others that aren't like me can do jellybeans!

theaustins05 · January 2011

i was told i have tests at my next appointment in 6 weeks but i wasn't told what tests or how to prepare...i hope its not the glucose i have hyperemesis and i wont be able to drink it and keep it down if its McNasty... =[ and i'm picky about my jellybeans LOL

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