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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.

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AndNowItIsSeven · 28/04/2017 21:06

Our trust provides free lucozade in bottles.

Lemondrop09 · 28/04/2017 21:05

Glad to help Catfish Tesco seem to only have the new bottles in, that's all they had when I tried to buy mine. Found an old on in an off license in the end

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FraterculaArctica · 28/04/2017 21:01

My trust also tested everyone with a glucose challenge at 28 weeks for which you were expected to provide your own Lucozade. I won't drink Lucozade (or any other fizzy drink). Luckily a bit of Googling revealed the glucose load needed (I think it's 50g, but check yourself if you want to do this!) so I just bought some glucose and mixed that weight in 280ml water and drank it. I didn't tell the midwife who was doing the test - I'm a qualified biochemist, so I trusted my own judgement! Did this with both pregnancies.

CatRash · 28/04/2017 20:53

Thanks Lemondrop if I hadn't seen your thread then I would have picked up a new recipe bottle for my Lucozade challenge blood test while in Tesco the other day.

Midwife and nurse I saw that day were both completely unaware it had changed recipe!!

Also first time I've ever had Lucozade. It's pretty vile.

Michellemc1xo · 27/04/2017 18:58

@gingernaut we are not allowed to choose if we want to bring our own drink, it is compulsory that we drink the one at the hospital hence why I wrote the above comment 😊

Gingernaut · 27/04/2017 14:04

The hospital give a drink when there its nothing like lucozade it's disgusting and literally makes you heave while trying to drink it

Precisely.

Gingernaut · 27/04/2017 14:03

All varieties of Lucozade are included.

The zero sugar range has zero added sugar and can still contain 5 or 10 calories per 100ml.

The 'normal' Lucozade range is going to be reduced by up to half.

www.lrsuntory.com/health-and-wellbeing/#

mobile.beveragedaily.com/Manufacturers/Lucozade-Ribena-Suntory-sugar-reduction

Ribena and Orangina will also see sugar reductions.

Michellemc1xo · 27/04/2017 11:55

Also it's only the lucozade zero that has less sugar they've changed the labels for these you can get the original one and two other flavours the wrapper is different than the original lucozade.

Michellemc1xo · 27/04/2017 00:03

Why do you need lucozade? I didn't need it when I got tested lol. The hospital give a drink when there its nothing like lucozade it's disgusting and literally makes you heave while trying to drink it lo

Gingernaut · 26/04/2017 21:28

They've just reduced the amount of sugar.

It's still Lucozade, you just have to calculate the amount of liquid you have to drink to get the same amount of glucose.

DeliciouslyHella · 25/04/2017 20:21

I had my GTT today and was given a glucose syrup drink to have. It was horrible, but necessary. Was the same when I had the test for DD in 2015, at a different hospital.

My friend went the other week to a different hospital and was given a bottle of lucozade.

As long as you're following the guidelines your hospital provides, it'll be fine.

fassbendersmistress · 25/04/2017 20:12

What???

Lucozade is my trusty hangover cure!! (Obvs currently not in use). This is not good news.

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 25/04/2017 20:12

Won't two teaspoons of honey on toast do the same thing?

What's with the Lucozade fetish?

vfoster · 25/04/2017 20:08

My midwife told me they were finishing the supply of lucozade they had in. I complained that it tasted awful as I can't stand the stuff and she said the new glucose syrup they use tastes much worse! I was thankful for the lucozade after that!

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...

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.

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.

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!

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?

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?!?!

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.

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.

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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.

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).

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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