Are any of you planning to decline the glucose drink and request a good alternative?

smilormarie · January 2016

So last time I fasted for 12 hours around 30 some odd weeks and went to the lab, drank the salty Gatorade stuff, waited an hour, and had the test. I barely passed. Cut off was 130 and I was 128. He was 7 lbs 4 oz at 37 weeks which means he could have been 10 lbs full term at 40 weeks. This time I am AMA and starting at an even higher weight than last pregnancy (and last pregnancy I was 15 lbs heavier than usual). I'm suspecting I would get glucose screening even earlier and I'm seeing that some moms are declining the drink for a more healthy alternative that provides the same amount of carbs. I'm thinking of asking my OB at my first appointment and was wondering if any of you had recent similar experiences? Thanks!

mumblefrog86 · January 2016

I don't think there is, the drink is made of a known concentration and they use this as a standard for the test. Drinking something else would give different results and could not be compared. It is just one time I would stick to the conventional drink especially since you are a "higher" risk.

Ceventa · January 2016

Personally I like that sugary orange drink that they give you lol So I don't mind it, I know, I'm a have a serious sweet tooth problem.

texasmama2014 · January 2016

I asked last pregnancy (very low risk) and they didn't give me an alternative. I had a friend who got to drink a bunch of coke and eat a hershey bar, probably less healthy than the tiny bottle...

DDRRT1982 · January 2016

Declining this test is stupid unless you already know you have GD and are maintaining an appropriate diet. Why anyone would consciously ignore recommendations from their healthcare professional is beyond me. Of all the tests this is the most benign to me. Drink the damn drink and make sure you aren't putting yourself and your baby at risk.

Edit not talking specifically to OP. Just anyone who thinks they know more than their Dr.

smilormarie · January 2016

Some women have been offered the choice to eat a banana and drink a glass of OJ instead. Please read the original title - this is not about opting out of the test, but choosing not to drink the solution and instead getting the carbs from other foods / drinks. Thank you for your understanding.

Sonicstef · January 2016

I know someone who ate jelly beans instead of the orange drink for the test but I have no idea how many she had to have.

Toricharline · January 2016

I've heard of the "jelly bean" alternative. Since you already are at risk for it, I would probably just try to maintain the appropriate diet and treat myself as though I already have it. My doctor told me that there was a diet alternative to taking the test. I have since switched doctors, but am still not planning on taking the test. Not because I'm stupid or selfish. I just research it myself and get multiple opinions, besides just the one doctor I barely talk to who barely knows me. I actually deny a lot of the tests and things suggested by doctors if they aren't 100% needed. It's optional with the midwife I am now seeing. I'm had a completely normal and healthy first pregnancy, and am low risk for GD anyways though.

1faceinacrowd · January 2016

Are you wanting an alternative because you don't like the taste of the orange stuff? I have heard of people getting to do alternatives but I think it really depends on your OB office. If your issue is the healthiness (or lack thereof) of the drink, I wouldn't worry about that. It's just about as bad as drinking a soda or eating a small fry from McDonald's (at least when it comes to carbs and chemicals) and one little drink isn't going to harm you.

DDRRT1982 · January 2016

OMG, you found a meme on FB. You should definitely taylor your healthcare on something you found on FB. You totally told me.

If you want to ask for a healthier option that's your choice, but let's not pretend it is the same test. It's one drink and dumps a specific amount into your system. Lol, eating jelly beans. Totally the same thing.

Memes like that drive me freaking crazy. Bc you went to a midwife you are fully informed now? I feel like I am pretty informed with my OB.

smilormarie · January 2016

My midwife never offered me an alternative. I have to have an OB this time around. I agree. Eating jelly beans and drinking a soda doesn't sound like a healthy alternative. Not only does this drink taste like crap, even worse than Gatorade, it contains ingredients that my fertility doc has instructed me to avoid. If you research it - there are specific diets that can be followed which mimic the same amount of glucose you would get from the drink anyway. I know everyone is hormonal - chill. I was hoping for some Recent experiences. Not "your doctor knows best" advice. And that pic was for convenience so I searched it in Facebook to get a nice image for you ladies. I can't screen shot a medical journal article. Sheesh. Not even close to the same thing. Sorry for asking!!

DDRRT1982 · January 2016

i can assure you that my hormones play no role in me ever responding sarcastically to a response generated by a FB meme. I'll take that scientific article any day.

P.S. You sound like my 13 year old with your whole "sorry for asking" BS.

mumblefrog86 · January 2016

It is 1 drink, we consume all that crap already that is a fb scare tactic. I would just drink the drink and do the test or opt out of the test it is your choice.

mumblefrog86 · January 2016

Just did a search no medical journals to back it up only fear mongering websites. I asked my pharmacist friend if she could dig any real science proof it is unsafe and she couldn't find any. I would follow what your doctor or Midwife suggest and go with that or just opt out.

Toricharline · January 2016

OP, I'm sorry this lady seems to know it all. It's completely uncalled for rudeness.
That's actually an article im pretty sure, not just a "meme on Facebook".
No need to argue with someone accusing you of acting like a child.
I think it's awesome and smart of you to ask questions. You should always ask questions and figure out your options. Going along with whatever your doctor says can sometimes be extremely ignorant. I hope you find the information that you are looking for, and make your decision for what best suits you. Do not allow yourself to be bullied into doing something you're not okay with. That drink made me so sick the first time. Couldn't eat for hours. Basically goes against everything we know about what your body needs during pregnancy. I was told I had to take it the first time, no options, everyone had to take it every pregnancy. Then suddenly this pregnancy I have a different doctor (same hospital) and she told me I have options and that not everyone has to take it. The inconsistency alone tells me that doctors may not always know what they are talking about. Ask questions, research things yourself, don't be pressured. I hope everything works out for you!

Jenniferk08 · January 2016

If there was a natural/healthy alternative I would consider it. But Coke? Jelly beans? Hershey bars? People will use those but are worried about a little bottle of sugar?
I have heard that there are other flavored besides orange. Personally I chilled it the night before and just chugged it on the last half of my hour commute to the office.

DDRRT1982 · January 2016

I am really trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. I am not finding anything either that seems legitimate.

Bookhousegirl · January 2016

I feel like people make a way bigger deal out of this drink than necessary. It took me all of 2 minutes to drink and yes it was kind of gross but not horrific. I also feel like I've eaten a significant amount of chemicals with some of my cravings (donuts, French fries, the 3 snack size bags of peanut M&M's that I just downed) so unless someone's adhering to a very strict whole food diet then it's not very far outside of the realm of normal.

Basically, I'm just saying is it worth eating a bunch of other chemicals/sugary foods to avoid a much smaller amount of concentrated glucose?

SkiChic626 · January 2016

@lgem4 just ask for a different flavor!

I did a fruit punch and an orange - they let me pick which kind, and I think there was a weird clear one, too, that I didn't choose. I have PCOS so I had to do the test at 17 weeks and again at 28 weeks.

holdensmama15 · January 2016

I had GD last time and have to retest this time at 12w (next wednesday...yay). I was over 20lbs lighter when I got pregnant this time than I was when I got pregnant last time so I'm not as worried. However, opting out of the test is dumb (not you OP, but I saw a reference or two to people opting out) because everyone is at risk. You may think you're not or you're "low" risk but it has nothing to do with your diet pre-baby and everything to do with your placenta and how it absorbs and distributes sugar.

amandazap · January 2016

My clinic has different flavors as well. We put chemicals in our bodies everyday that may be harmful, this one little test is probably OK, especially if it's approved by peer reviewed articles in the medical field.

About the jelly bean test...nah, never mind. Not even gonna go there.

BlessUrHeart29 · January 2016

holdensmama15 said:

I had GD last time and have to retest this time at 12w (next wednesday...yay). I was over 20lbs lighter when I got pregnant this time than I was when I got pregnant last time so I'm not as worried. However, opting out of the test is dumb (not you OP, but I saw a reference or two to people opting out) because everyone is at risk. You may think you're not or you're "low" risk but it has nothing to do with your diet pre-baby and everything to do with your placenta and how it absorbs and distributes sugar.

This. I had GD my first pregnancy, and I was totally shocked.

ladipale · January 2016

I had GD my previous pregnancy... not sure the protocol this time as I haven't had my first OB appt. The only thing I may ask to do is just test my blood sugar myself for a few days and evaluate results. And not because I'm scared of the drink (or the Food Babe fear-mongering) but because it makes me feel like absolute CRAP for a few days.

And I should add I was so low risk for GD - very healthy weight pre-pg, I eat really well, exercise 4 times a week, blah, blah, blah. Could not get my fasting numbers low enough and was on a TON of slow release insulin.

charmedlifex3 · January 2016

"natural flavors added" always makes me nervous, because of my food allergy. Thanks for bringing this up - I will make sure to pin down exactly what it is or talk to my obgyn about an alternative. I know I can eat chocolate and coke- lol! I'm allergic to carrots and beets and they show up in the most random places... Which since I go into shock, is dangerous!

Pepper6 · January 2016

There are different flavors. I think I did orange for my test with DD and then last week during the original blood tests I got super light headed and nauseous so they gave me the fruit punch one to sip on. It was clear (no artificial color) but it tasted okay, if that's what you're worried about.

Flavor issues aside, I think the glucose drink is the best, most widely tested option. As pps said, it's the testing standard, so it's going to get more consistent results. Not to mention that other 'options' don't sound like they are any healthier or have less synthetic ingredients.

ramoseecology · January 2016

I'm really surprised at some of the unnecessarily hostile responses/ work choices. People make different parenting choices and it begins now. If you want to ask your OB about an alternative based on a banana and orange juice I think that's a perfectly fine question to ask. I don't think many ladies here are concerned with the drink ingredients (I'm going to drink it) but I don't think there is anything wrong with asking your doctor about alternatives and having asked here if there was anyone who had experience with this. I don't know your diet and lifestyle so I'm not going to comment about fries, candy or soda since you may avoid all of these things, artificial dyes, etc. normally.

Duffgurl · January 2016

I plan to just drink it and be done.

DSMLove · January 2016

My midwife's office offers the orange glucose drink, but also says if you prefer an alternative, eating or drinking anything that contains the specified amount of sugar is fine.

I know several people that brought in a pre measured bottle of fruit juice or Naked brand fruit smoothie.

Personally, I just drank the orange stuff, and here's why.

First of all, I had to fast and then consume all that sugar within a short time frame while getting blood draws. I was pretty sure that would make me feel sick, and the test doesn't work if you vomit. The orange drink is a pretty small bottle, because the sugar is so concentrated. If you try some kind of natural alternative, you have to drink a lot more ounces, and I thought for sure a belly full of lots of juice would make me puke.

Plus, although I was pretty sure I could properly measure the right amount of sugar, I could mess it up. I really wanted accurate test results, and I knew the orange drink would be the right amount.

KarlaMCurry · January 2016

I'm going to ask my midwife to either opt out of testing or check for a healthier alternative - but will also trust her advice if she recommends going ahead with it. I personally believe that more testing isn't necessarily better, unless you're specifically at-risk or have an underlying condition. Just because so many tests are offered today due to progression of technology, doesn't mean we should feel bad (or "dumb") if we decline.

One of the things that has bothered me about the test is the fact that it's fasting, and all of that sugar is consumed on an empty stomach... then if you don't get into the lab by a certain time the results are inconclusive and you have to take it again.

danalynn86 · January 2016

*lurking from June bmb*

I asked my doctor about the glucose test because I tend to eat a really low carb diet and I've read about the possibility of false positives when someone follows a paleo-like diet with this test(no, not any peer reviewed articles, all anecdotal, eviscerate me if you want to). My doctor was really open to letting me use a glucometer to track my blood sugar for a week or so instead of taking this specific test. I haven't ironed out the details on exactly how long I will monitor but I'm leaning toward that option instead of this specific test.

MrsAlT68 · January 2016

I've always had issues with low blood sugar, but never diagnosed hypoglycemic. If I skip a meal and my sugar drops I get very nauseous and start dry heaving. If this continues through pregnancy I'm going to request to not take it, cause that just sounds like it'll suck

wlux · January 2016

I monitored my blood sugar 4 times a day for two weeks (with a food log) because the drink made me vomit.

DDRRT1982 · January 2016

danalynn86 said:
*lurking from June bmb*

I asked my doctor about the glucose test because I tend to eat a really low carb diet and I've read about the possibility of false positives when someone follows a paleo-like diet with this test(no, not any peer reviewed articles, all anecdotal, eviscerate me if you want to). My doctor was really open to letting me use a glucometer to track my blood sugar for a week or so instead of taking this specific test. I haven't ironed out the details on exactly how long I will monitor but I'm leaning toward that option instead of this specific test.

Monitoring your blood sugar over an extended period is not the same as completely declining it. Even you said that you don't know how long you will have to monitor it because at this time there is not a standard with that sort of care. However, You are taking a proactive approach at monitoring your lifestyle. I don't consider that the same thing as declining a test and flying blind on whether you have GD.

DDRRT1982 · January 2016

My fasting was overnight and then I drank the drink in the morning and had blood taken about 45 minutes later. All of this was done by 0945 and I was back to eating bagels by 10. I guess it was worth it to me because I would of pretty much done anything to avoid having my baby end up in the NICU again.

I am interested to see how GBS testing goes off on this board.

Neesey · January 2016

I had GD last pregnancy so I've had the test several times. One doctor told me to fast, one said to eat normally and my new doctor, who I trust more, gave me a very specific meal to eat before: 2 servings of protein, 1-2 fat and 1/2 of complex carbs--no fruit or sugar. I wouldn't just assume you need to fast. Ask first before you head in. I definitely felt the best after the test where I followed the recommended diet.

bananers · January 2016

One thing that drives me crazy about this entire conversation is the multiple instances of people claiming they aren't high-risk. GD doesn't discriminate, and I know some incredibly healthy women who got it, and some who ate nothing but carbs and sugar throughout their pregnancy and skated free.

It's one teeny drink. Maybe 8 or 10 oz? You can go back to your all natural organic diet afterward and your baby won't be born with a third eye.

michelle_shelle · January 2016

I'm a first time mom and I have massive issues with my digestive tract and gut. I also happen to be allergic to fructose and glucose...just to name a very few of my allergies. I am hoping for an alternative but accurate method. I want to have the peace of mind of knowing for sure if I am gd or at risk for it. Otherwise I will take it and run to the hospital as soon as the test is done or ask to take it at the hospital.

mooncusp22 · January 2016

I just took the 3hr test this past week. I don't mind the drink- they offered Orange and Fruit Punch ( I had orange). Tastes like a Gatorade to me! It's only like 5oz, I drank it in less then a minute.

Failed 3 of the 4 blood draws so I have GD (again, had it with DD1).

Cosupi4 · January 2016

smilormarie said:

Some women have been offered the choice to eat a banana and drink a glass of OJ instead. Please read the original title - this is not about opting out of the test, but choosing not to drink the solution and instead getting the carbs from other foods / drinks. Thank you for your understanding.

Thank you for this! Last time I just missed the cut off on the 1 hour and then on 2 of the 4 in the 3 hour. These drinks made me sick and light headed. I ended up checking my sugar everyday and never needed insulin. I was wondering about ingredients and alternatives. DH and DS are both corn intolerant so we don't eat anything around here with dextrose (corn sugar) in it and I barely get any outside of the home. I'm concerned that since my body doesn't intake it like most people it won't react to it the same. I'll bring this up at my appt next week! I'm hoping I can opt out of it and just check my sugar and track my carbs. I don't mind doing that, but I don't want to put all that crap into my body and into baby if I can avoid it. I remember how DS reacted to it while in utero... Rolling like crazy for hours and then didn't move for hours. Same as giving a little kid a candy bar... Freaky stuff.

PinkLady2015 · January 2016

Lurking from July

This conversation is making my brain hurt with the ladies that are just going to "opt out." Ummm no, why would you purposefully put your baby in harms way by opting out of this important test... bc you dont wanna drink a tiny bottle of sweet liquid? B/C it makes you feel nauseous for a couple of hours? Gimme a break. If you're that worried about being slightly uncomfortable for 10 seconds, whatcha gonna do when you need to squeeze that kid outta ya?
Yes you are required to fast... most likely for 8-12 hours. Schedule your test for first thing in the morning.. you wake up, you go to the test, and then it's over. But by all means, if you wanna risk having a large, fat baby that's more likely to be born early, in respiratory distress and jaundice, and requiring a c-section, while increasing the risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes later in life, go for it.
Also, there are factors that increase your risk for GD, but it can also affect ANYONE so regardless of whether your high-risk or low-risk... its a test that is recommended for all pregnant women.

Also, I've had to have a glucose tolerance every year for the past decade. Its really not bad at all.

*sorry ahead of time for the bitchiness but I just can't with the nonchalance of skipping important tests that affect the health of your baby

smilormarie · January 2016

I wish there was an "unlike" button. :-(

Please everyone, read the original post and keep the responses limited to your experiences. Thanks!

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