Gestastional Diabetes test and Jelly Beans

tee18 · October 2014

In a thread a while ago someone brought up eating jelly beans instead of the drink. When my dr brought up the test at my last appt., I asked if there were any alternatives, and she said that I could do jelly beans (I didn't ask about jelly beans specifically). BUT it's the 2 hr test my office does, and I would have to consume 75 g of sugar/glucose. Which would be 35 jelly beans - she said the Brach's brand (which I think are bigger??). Anyway, it seems like it may be just as hard to eat 35 big jelly beans in 5-10 minutes as it would to drink the drink???

Has anyone actually done the test with jelly beans??? Ironically, I am taking the test on Halloween (my choice - DH is off and I wanted someone to hang out with), so I will likely skip the candy in the evening....

mom2xover2002 · October 2014

I do mine on the 14th of November. It's my first time doing this test too..lol.. I didn't have to do it with DD & DS when I was pg with them. I didn't ask mine for alternatives but 35 jelly beans in 10 minutes seems like a lot.

StephanieLBerg · October 2014

Mine is this coming Monday and I am freaking out! I hate needles and testing positive for GD would just ruin me. I have to go to my local lab to get the test done, my OBs office doesn't do it. So, I guess I'll find out on Monday if there are any options aside the disgusting liquid.

natsgirl12 · October 2014

The drink is actually fine. It tastes like an overly sweet flat orange soda. Make sure to put it in the fridge and drink it over ice. It's no big deal. Suck it up and chug it.

baileylove22 · October 2014

I did not think the drink was that bad either. It was like orange soda. I've had worse.

AngieAn · October 2014

natsgirl12 said:
The drink is actually fine. It tastes like an overly sweet flat orange soda. Make sure to put it in the fridge and drink it over ice. It's no big deal. Suck it up and chug it.

I agree, I had no problems with the drink. If really isn't that bad at all. I was able to leave and come back so it sat in my purse for 30 min before I drank it and i pretty much drank it all in one shot. Personally that is one of the easier tests that I've done. Then again, I would also have no problem at all eating 35 jelly beans in 10 min.

jmcgra06 · October 2014

I also didn't mind the drink, and I wouldn't mind eating jelly beans or chocolate bars. In fact, the first time I read this post it was 3am and I wound up eating the rest of the bag of Jelly Bellys that was in the cabinet because it reminded me of them

foxslaw · October 2014

This changed my life.

Allie429 · October 2014

With my first-I was so freaked out about the drink and what everyone said about it, it was causing me anxiety going up to my appt. I had my husband cheering me on and I even plugged my nose. I took a sip and was like "damn, this is good" and proceeded to chug it in 30 secs. It was just like flat orange soda-in no way "up chuck worthy". I would rather do the drink than the jelly beans. Mine was also in the fridge for a couple weeks so being cold helped.

Alygohome · October 2014

I'd do the beans. The drink is awful I sat there for an hour gagging after and felt like shit the rest of the day. I failed mine to I go again tmrw for the three hour test. I actually cried because I don't think I can drink it again. Maybe I'm just a baby I don't even drunk juice or pop because I hate sweet stuff, but the drink is the worst thing I've ever put in my mouth lol

magsame · October 2014

I had on GD test at 9 weeks and another again after Thanksgiving. The drink I had was just like sprite only sweeter and cold. I have to drink it all in like 3 minutes. It wasn't that bad. I was nervous too after hearing stories but it was fine. I'm not a fan of jellybeans so I'll take a super sweet sprite over those any day!

ColleenS629 · October 2014

I drink water almost exclusively and I still didn't think the drink was bad last time. This time, they gave me the red one instead of orange so I guess I'll see on Tuesday how that one is.

Mrs. Zee · October 2014

I go in on Tuesday for my monthly appointment with my OB so I was going to talk to her about getting a glucose monitor and just testing myself for a few days at intervals she would like and giving her the readings. One of my friends straight up refused the GD. Here's an interesting article about the glucola:

https://foodbabe.com/2014/05/13/shocking-why-are-doctors-recommending-this-toxic-drink/

t8keepr03 · October 2014

I didn't think the drink was bad at all. I did start to feel nauseous getting into the 3rd hour for the 3 hour one but that was because I hadn't eaten not so much the drink. After both my 1 hour and 3 hour I went straight to get food and felt great the rest of the day. I am skipping the 1 hour and going straight to the 3 hour this time. I will drink the drink and go straight to eat when I am done. I wouldn't be able to eat 35 jelly beans in 10 mins.

sweetdreamz6700 · October 2014

I'm the one that posted about the jelly bean alternative. I have my GD test in a couple of weeks. My office tests based on 50gr of sugar which is equal to 18 Brach's jelly beans eaten as close together as possible. 35 does seem like a lot!

Meagano19 · October 2014

I did my glucose intolerance 1 hr test yesterday and the drink was much more pleasant than expected. I had the orange flavor because the fruit punch wasn't cold and, like others have said, it was like orange soda with no carbonation. I don't even like orange flavored things and I chugged it down with no problems. I was worried it would be thick but it wasn't.

mandamoochie · October 2014

@mrs.zee it's not a few days of monitoring, it's a full month. I'm currently in midst of it now because I would become seriously ill because of the glucola. TBH I'd rather the glucola test and have it be done and over with - not to mention saving me the out of pocket expense from the testing strips and lancets. The glucola test is covered by my insurance 100%, diabetic testing supplies, no.

I don't have GD, my highest reading so far was 99 - I wish I could just stop already.

krispy83 · October 2014

As a jelly bean lover, I would have no problem putting 35 of them away in ten min

If you're not a fan of jelly beans though, you may be better off with the drink (or another alternative). I drink water almost exclusively and really didn't find it to be that bad when I did it before - did you have problems with it previously? My only problem was feeling a little queasy towards the end of the hour, but that was from not eating before the test, not the drink.

Ceefome · October 2014

I've done 11 GD tests now (7 one-hours and 4 two/three hours) and the drink really isn't that bad. I prefer the orange over the fruit punch, and it's better cold, but it's like flat soda. And I could drink water during my tests. They actually recommended it, as it can make it easier on your stomach.

Alygohome · October 2014

You all are crazy. It kept coating my mouth like cough syrup and I couldn't swallow and I kept gagging. It tasted like
Terrible orange syrup and for 20 min after I couldn't get the coating out of my mouth and they wouldn't let me drink, I also got hot and shaky and dizzy... Maybe that's why I failed lol

krysmill · October 2014

My office offers several different flavors! Orange, fruit punch, coke, sprite and grape. I was told the sprite and orange were the best in flavor. I asked if there were alternatives but they said no they only allow the drink. I believe I'll have to set up my text at my appt tomorrow.

tee18 · October 2014

Thanks for the responses, everyone! I did drink the orange drink with my first and did not like it! I'm still not sure what I'll go for. Maybe I'll get some jelly beans and decide when I get there!

CogDis · October 2014

@Alygohome‌
Sorry you have to do it again. That blows!

Mego04 · October 2014

I did my test the other day. The drink I had was not bad at all and tasted like Hawaiian punch.

Dannylion24 · October 2014

I heard the red drink was better, but have only ever had the orange (3 times now). No issues chugging it, but I'm like a few other posters and wouldn't have any problem housing the jellybeans or the chocolate bars either. I'm far more annoyed by the one hour wait then the drink itself. Good luck!

michelle142 · October 2014

I would rather choke down the drink in 10 seconds (seriously, just chug it!) than sit and eat 35 disgusting jelly beans.

Alygohome · October 2014

I tried chugging it this time and it came out my nostrils when I gagged while chugging, Not a nice feeling. It is way better in a glass with Ice and a straw I do admit.

StephanieLBerg · October 2014

Blargh! The drink was awful and they didn't have any choices for the flavor, or jelly beans, etc. Yuck! I hope I don't have to fmdo that again this pregnancy!

LilTiger15 · October 2014

My midwife is letting me do the jelly bean test. But, it is a 1 hour test. I'll be eating 28 jelly beans. I love jelly beans, so I don't have a problem with it.

StephanieLBerg · October 2014

The liquid made my throat scratchy? What's that about?

DBride2006 · October 2014

Some of you gals crack me up. This will be my 6th test and I've had GD with both boys... fully prepared to have it again. It's a sugary drink. Is it the most enjoyable thing on earth? No. But all of you are about to push a human out of your body, get pooped on, puked on and all sorts of other gross stuff. If a flat tasting soda sends you over the edge, be very afraid!

Don't get me wrong, it makes me feel lousy all day, but it's a diagnostic tool. I don't really see how consuming the same amount of sugar by way of candy is going to make it any better... This, too, shall pass.

My two cents.