Dangers of gestational diabetes test

[Debie19]

Hey ladies! Here is some interesting info on the gestational diabetes test. I personally will be saying no to this test and I hope u all will at least do some research and make an informed decision for you and your sweet baby :) at the bottom I've included websites where I got all of this info. Here are some facts I found:

Glucola test has a sensitivity of 76%. This means that a positive result will correctly identify about 76 out of 100 women who have gestational diabetes (the other 24 would go un-identified and not realize they have gestational diabetes). The specificity of the test is 76%. This means that among 100 women without gestational diabetes, 76 will have a negative result (and 24 women who do not have gestational diabetes will have a positive result!)

The glucose drink contains BVO or, brominated vegetable oil which is contained in many sodas and prevents the flavor from rising to the top of the drink.

BVO is patented in the US as a flame retardant and is actually banned from soft drinks in Europe and Japan.

Research has shown that these substances build up in the body as well as breast milk and leave residues that accumulate in the brain, liver and other organs.

BVO has been associated with heart lesions, fatty changes in the liver and impaired growth and developmental development and both animal and human studies have linked BVO to fertility problems, neurological problems and changes in thyroid hormones.

"In a study with 25,000 women, stillbirth and infant death are such rare occurrences that this study did not have a big enough sample size to look at deaths. However, the authors reported that they did not find any association between infant deaths and gestational diabetes "(Metzger, Lowe et al. 2008).

The following statements were included in an ACOG article...

“The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has concluded that although there is insufficient evidence to recommend universal screening, screening high-risk women may be beneficial.”

“The 50-g, 1-hour laboratory screening test has become widely used…despite the absence of data to demonstrate a benefit to the population as a whole.”

“It should be emphasized that although the evidence is inconclusive that treating gestational diabetes can prevent maternal and fetal complications, universal screening and treatment are widely practiced.”

That is just SOME of what I've found. I hope all you moms can take the time to do some research and make an informed decision!

Here are some website where I got this info:

http://evidencebasedbirth.com/gestational-diabetes-and-the-glucola-test/

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

http://avivaromm.com/dont-drink-glucola-gestational-diabetes

[bonitagirl747]

I would strongly encourage women to take this test. Unless you're drinking this frequently it's not going to pose any long term harm to you. The same chemical in reference is in Mt. Dew, power aide (which Coke is pulling) and most sports drinks. The benefits out weight the consequences. GD can lead to still born, physical distress of your baby and added stress on your body with possible long term effects. I find it rediculous myself to skip this test for the sake of a few chemicals we've all been exposed to at one time or another unknowingly. I failed my first test, I'm going for my second tomorrow and I'll put on my big girl pants and deal with the outcome for the sake of our baby and my health. Sorry for the rant.

[lilpianogirl85]

I agree with the above. I think that the benefits of getting the test outweigh any of the problems (very vague and not specific problems) mentioned in this article.  You can't believe everything you read and I think this article was written to cause panic in a situation that has no reason to do so. If there was something wrong with the drink then they would have pulled it long ago especially when it comes to pregnancy and babies. I think it is absolutely important for everyone to get this test done. And honestly if you have any questions ask your doctor. Because you can't seriously think that these drinks are more harmful than all this rediculous talk and suggestions (by people on this app) to take Castro oil during the end of your pregnancy. Which is far more harmful to you and the baby than a drink to test for diabetes that the doctor gives you. Plus this article makes it seem like diabetes is not a threat in pregnancy when it absolutely is. So the drink is harmful but if you have diabetes it's not. Slightly backwards in my opinion. Again ladies, don't believe everything you read on the internet or on these asps. As far as I can tell not alot of people on here are trained medical professionals

[ShannyO]

I appreciate the research, but I agree, having to drink it once or twice isn't going to cause such drastric issues besides I think we all understand the benefits of this test outweigh the risks. I am a child of a momma who had gestational diabetes while pregnant with me. I was born much bigger than I should have been at 10lbs 12oz & my mom never recovered from diabetes. She has been insulin dependant (type 1) for 34 years now.  She was placed on insulin when I was just a year old. She wanted more babies, but this disease wouldn't allow her to fulfill her dream of having more children.

[1momma4chicks]

When I had my 1hr test while pregnant with my 3yr old, I failed it so I had to go for the 3hr. Ugh!!! When I got there, the lab tech tested my blood & told me my fasting b.s. was 86 & I was definitely not diabetic. I asked if I had to continue with the test & she replied that I did. Why??? Stupidest waste of time & I wanted to vomit so bad from fasting that long. I cannot believe there isn't a better way to test for gestational diabetes.

[AnnieBrooke]

I asked because the statement skipped anything about amounts.  I don't think I have ever drunk the diabetes-test drink in my life before I had it for my gd test, and I have never had it after, either.  One drink of something that might have an (unnamed amount, probably small) of a substance in it, and which drink was created for medical purposes -- it just seemed that the statement was very sweeping and designed to lead people to conclusions that hardly seem proven.  I also was thinking, as mumma says, about what would happen if women stopped testing for gestational diabetes on unfounded fears stirred up by stuff they read on the Internet.  Gestational diabetes is real and has serious consequences if not controlled.

[mummainoz]

Totally agree with you GeekMom1213. Would love see some unbias info on complications from not getting the test done for the sake of a balanced argument and the need to be socially responsible with the information you put out there.

[GeekMom1213]

Looks an awful lot like fear-mongering to me. AnnieBrooke has an excellent point. It's not like we're directed to drink that stuff every day or every week.

Guess what else is effective as a flame retardant? Nifty little chemical we call dihydrogen monoxide. Overdose on it, you die. Used in fracking, production of pesticides, and chemical warfare. And you consume it every day.
We also call it water.

[Debie19]

I'm not sure....I'm no expert on the matter, just wanted to encourage women to do some research :)

[AnnieBrooke]

Hi, you say "Research has shown that these substances build up in the body as well as breast milk and leave residues that accumulate in the brain, liver and other organs."  I assume this would happen if someone consistently drank the stuff they use to test for gestational diabetes.  If this is the only time a woman drinks this drink, she would have to have many diabetes tests before it would "build up" in the body, I assume?

[Debie19]

No prob!

[ashley4beauties]

Omg im due for mine and i think NOT ANYMORE im gonna let my dr no y but in my words thank u sooooooooo much for sharing this it really changed my part im out of a laptop due to fiance took it to work lol but i will look up later