Jelly beans as an alternative to a cola beverage containing fifty grams of glucose.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to test the diagnostic value and patient tolerance of jelly beans as an alternative to a 50 gm glucose solution.


METHODS
Pregnant women between 26 to 30 weeks of gestation confirmed by early ultrasonography were recruited to participate in the study. Each participant was given a cola beverage containing 50 gm of glucose. The plasma glucose level was determined 1 hour later. Within 2 weeks of the 50 gm glucose test, each patient ate 18 jelly beans and had her plasma glucose levels tested after 1 hour. Finally, within 2 weeks of the jelly bean test a 100 gm, 3-hour glucose tolerance test was performed on each subject. The results of the 3-hour test were used to define the presence or absence of gestational diabetes and carbohydrate intolerance by the criteria of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Patient tolerance was rated by responses to questions regarding side effects.


RESULTS
One hundred fifty-seven women completed the study. The mean maternal age, gravidity, parity, and number of abortions were 26.06 years, 2.66, 0.96, and 0.69. By use of a 140 mg/dl threshold, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of the cola beverage was 46%, 81%, and 18%. These values at a 120 mg/dl threshold for jelly beans were 54%, 81%, and 20%, respectively. The patient tolerance was greater for the jelly beans compared with the 50 gm cola beverage.


CONCLUSIONS
Jelly beans may serve as an alternative to a cola beverage containing 50 gm of glucose.
Boyd
K L
KL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Ross
E K
EK
Sherman
S J
SJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002182:Candy; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D005950:Glucose Solution, Hypertonic; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D005950:Glucose Solution, Hypertonic; D005947:Glucose