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Pregnancy

FYI - Lucosade for blood tests

39 replies

Lemondrop09 · 25/04/2017 17:40

If you're due a blood glucose/gestational diabetes test over the next few months and your hospital doesn't provide the Lucosade then you might want to stock up now!

My midwife yesterday said they've just been advised that Lucosade are halving the amount of sugar in their drink. As a result, the NHS are having a minor panic about GD blood tests.

The midwife advised me to purchase my bottle of Lucosade now, while they're still in the shops. It's needs to be the Original flavour, at least 280ml (so a small bottle is fine) and have 17g glucose per 100g.

The new version will only have 8.5g, which is not sufficient for the test. Obviously the NHS will need to think of a way around those. However right now, there is no alternative test. So worth grabbing a bottle if you're due the blood test in the next few months.

OP posts:

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Twinkie1 · 25/04/2017 17:43

The drink just needs 75g of glucose in it. It doesn't have to be lucozade.

Gingernaut · 25/04/2017 17:51

Lucozade was preferred because it was a relatively nice taste compared to the 'medical' taste of the glucose drink which is recommended.

The amount of Lucozade will have to be increased or you'll have to drink the God awful stuff the hospital supplies.

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 25/04/2017 17:53

I can't believe anyone drinks that thing on their own free will.

Lemondrop09 · 25/04/2017 17:55

Dunno Twinkie, just passing on what my midwife told me yesterday. They're not very happy about it! Thought it might just save some pregnant woman some hassle.

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10Betty10 · 25/04/2017 17:59

As far as I'm aware all hospitals give you a cup of glucose drink for the test- have never heard of them asking you to bring your own! Yes the NHS one isn't the nicest, but has the correct quantity of glucose to do the test properly. I think your midwife was having a bit of a panic for no reason to be honest.

confusedat23 · 25/04/2017 17:59

Ive requested a glucose and water mixture for mine... i would imagine that will be the norm once Lucozade halfs the amount of sugar.

10Betty10 · 25/04/2017 18:00

Ps. The hospitals don't use Lucozade brand anyway so the recipe change won't make any difference for tests.

Lemondrop09 · 25/04/2017 18:02

Betty some hospitals obviously can and do ask you to bring your own. Mine being one of them. I have also head it happening in other places.

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10Betty10 · 25/04/2017 18:07

How odd. Must be some kind of cost cutting thing in certain regions. Maybe best for people to check with their midwife if they are in one of these areas then.

GreenGoblin0 · 25/04/2017 18:08

in my trust they use the lucozade for the initial glucose tolerance test that all pregnant women undergo (although in fact my trust no longer test all women just those considered high risk) - and you have to bring your own bottle of lucozade. if your results come back too high you then have to do the proper fasting glucose tolerance test over a number of hours and the nhs supply this drink - which isn't lucozade.

PancakesAndMapleSyrup · 25/04/2017 18:08

Lucozade bought this out a month/5 weeks ago so if you do buy the bottles then please do check you have an older bottle and not one of the new ones.

10Betty10 · 25/04/2017 18:09

That must be where the confusion is. For the proper fasting blood test was given their glucose drink- hence finding this lucozade thing a really odd request from NHS!

PurpleDaisies · 25/04/2017 18:10

I highly doubt the NHS are actually panicking about the changes to lucozade. I think your midwife was just being dramatic.

Cagliostro · 25/04/2017 18:14

I have to buy lucozade for mine

Lemondrop09 · 25/04/2017 18:16

Yes Purple, she was, and my 'minor panic' was tongue in cheek too That said, she really did say she didn't yet know how they'd change their test as they'd been using Lucosade for years and was really keen for me to find an old bottle to prevent problems.

Betty, yes I suspect it is a cost saving thing and is probably a decision taken by individual Trusts which is why it varies.

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Lules · 25/04/2017 18:19

I did the fasting GTT with lucozade back in sept 2015 so it's not a very new thing and seems to be fairly common.

I must be weird as I like the taste of it. I found it was drinking a big drink quickly that was hardest (had HG though).

MrsG2020 · 25/04/2017 18:19

I had my test yesterday. I wasn't told that I needed lucozade but when I arrived I was told that I needed to go and buy some as they don't supply a drink for the test. The nurse I had was concerned about the recipe changing as she said they will have to find an alternative once they completely stop selling the 'correct' lucozade.

Gingernaut · 25/04/2017 18:21

It's a bigger 'thing' for diabetics as many Type 1s prefer it to the Glucagel to bring them out of hypos.

notangelinajolie · 25/04/2017 18:27

Bought a botte of Lucozade in a shop a few weeks ago and I wondered why it tasted different. Not diabetic but I occasionaly buy it if I'm needing an energy boost. New version is horrible and I won't be buying it again.

EpoxyResin · 25/04/2017 18:27

I had to bring my own Lucozade too for my GTT in 2015. Big babies run in my family so I expect I'll need one again this time - will be stocking up on the stuff!

And on a non-pregnancy related note, gutted they're changing it. Original sugar-packed Lucozade serves many purposes in my non-pregnant life. Hangover? Lucozade. Colds and flu? Lucozade. Need a massive sugar rush before hitting the sports pitch? Lucozade!! Whatever will I do?!?!

Lunalovepud · 25/04/2017 18:34

I had to take my own Lucozade to my GTT a couple of years ago but I had one today and they gave me a glucose drink instead.

I can understand why you had to bring your own drink before - the NHS isn't made of money - and I am wondering how much it costs now with the new drink?

Lunalovepud · 25/04/2017 18:35

I should add that I had my own Lucozade as I had to take it last time and just assumed, and they wouldn't let me use it for the test. So double check before you stock up on gallons of the stuff!

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kikibo · 25/04/2017 18:42

It's only because they don't understand diabetes really. You could do that test with Fanta, Sprite, Coke, grape juice (where I am they do as it's in huge supply) or anything high in sugar for that matter. The thing is that it needs to contain what, 75g? of glucose. You can get that from other drinks/foods too. You could opt to eat sugar lumps.

SwimmingMom · 25/04/2017 18:43

I can't drink Lucozade. Was given a simple glucose water drink at the hospital. Am sure that can work for everyone.

EpoxyResin · 25/04/2017 18:49

But Lucozade is (was!!) a wonderful golden alchemy of energy and buzz, sparking pure joy and unbridled "whoosh" in those of us affected by the mythical "sugar rush" of folklore! And to have been able to enjoy that under the guise of medical investigations... and now that's all been taken away

...perhaps these pregnancy hormones are stronger than I thought...

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