Deaths after diabetes test - glucose preparation apparently contained anesthetics

In the glucose mix, after its ingestion, a woman and her baby died in Cologne, according to SPIEGEL information, an anesthetic has been found. Previously, the WDR had reported about it. There is no official confirmation, the authorities continue to speak only of a toxic substance.

The prosecution investigates in the case against unknown because of the initial suspicion of killing a crime. According to senior public prosecutor Ulrich Bremer, spokesman for the public prosecutor's office in Cologne, it is also unclear whether the contamination was intentional or negligent. (Read more about the case here)

The woman had bought the glucose preparation in the Heilig Geist pharmacy in the district Longerich and taken to her gynecologist. There, the 28-year-old had drunk the glucose mixture on Thursday and had to be taken to hospital because of serious complications. Her child was born by emergency cesarean section in the 25th week of pregnancy. But neither the woman nor the baby could be saved.

According to the autopsy, mother and child died of multiple organ failure. Whether the death of the baby was caused by the substance or the early date of birth, you could not say currently. Toxicological reports were commissioned. According to Bremer, the result can only be expected in two to three months.

Another woman had previously broken off a test in the same practice because the remedy had not tasted sweet as expected. She was hospitalized for one night, according to the prosecution.

It is still unclear whether there are other poisoned mixtures in circulation. The police and the city expressly warned against taking glucose-based products that were put together in the mentioned pharmacy. Patients who own them should not take them and hand them over immediately to the nearest police station. But no one has reported until Tuesday, a police spokesman said. For now, the city has forbidden the pharmacy to sell self-produced medicines.