Raw Onions

A whole medium sized onion (4oz) has about 10 grams carbs.

I had an interesting experience yesterday - 2 hours after my lunch (chicken salad) I did a test on my right hand and got 6.0. Too high (for me on Atkins - otherwise quite respectable). So I immediately licked and dried a left-hand finger, tested again - 4.6. Which is about what I would expect.

I'm left-handed. My right hand holds the peppers, tomatoes etc while I slice with the other. I didn't wash my hands before testing. I think it must have been the residual juice from the toms and red pepper that contaminated my reading - I've never had that happen before, so interesting to see it for the first time.

I've been back on Atkins since Monday, after an undisciplined 2 weeks, and since Tuesday morning I haven't had a reading above 5.4.

Viv 8)

biggest probs with testing I think is
1) not washing properly, contamination. If foodstuff, it tends to raise reading. If not dried properly, water content can lower reading.
2) squeezing to get blood - introduces other fluids from the finger into the blood sample and lowers the reading.

viviennem said:

I had an interesting experience yesterday - 2 hours after my lunch (chicken salad) I did a test on my right hand and got 6.0. Too high (for me on Atkins - otherwise quite respectable). So I immediately licked and dried a left-hand finger, tested again - 4.6. Which is about what I would expect.

I'm left-handed. My right hand holds the peppers, tomatoes etc while I slice with the other. I didn't wash my hands before testing. I think it must have been the residual juice from the toms and red pepper that contaminated my reading - I've never had that happen before, so interesting to see it for the first time.

I've been back on Atkins since Monday, after an undisciplined 2 weeks, and since Tuesday morning I haven't had a reading above 5.4.

Viv 8)

Click to expand...

First rule of testing bg Viv is to wash your hands!

Grazer said:

biggest probs with testing I think is
1) not washing properly, contamination. If foodstuff, it tends to raise reading. If not dried properly, water content can lower reading.
2) squeezing to get blood - introduces other fluids from the finger into the blood sample and lowers the reading.

Click to expand...

Interesting Grazer!! The Instructions with my freestyle say squeeze finger. I do not squeeze mine I hasten to add. :angel:
Mervyn

Mervyn said:

Interesting Grazer!! The Instructions with my freestyle say squeeze finger. I do not squeeze mine I hasten to add.
Mervyn

Click to expand...

Wow! Most meters say you can squeeze from the base of the finger but not near the puncture site for the reason I gave.

Grazer said:

2) squeezing to get blood - introduces other fluids from the finger into the blood sample and lowers the reading.

Click to expand...

I have heard this before but to what extent it could lower the bg reading is debatable, do you have a article/link to the above?

I used to think onion rings are one fast food that would not spike my BS but for me they are worse than French frys

I'd blame the bread before the onions since its not likely the cause of the glucose rise as much as the choice in breads used are - since most breads regardless of types are higher in carbs in general

I'd not cut down on the onions in your curries but then again I use a whole large onion in all of my curries and the amount that is really in each serving works out to about 1/6 of a large onion (as in it makes 6 servings) and I know for myself most of my curries don't spike my glucose levels (t1) very much at all (i do all vegan curries) but like all things we're each different in what effects us (one side doesn't fit all).

Also remember anything else you had with your meal, tea with additives or even coffee with additives will add to your glucose levels even if you use sugar free alternatives they can and will spike many people. N as other's have said not having a clean finger when testing and lead to a false reading (if you thick its to high retesting on a clean finger isn't a bad option - I do it often enough if I think my reading is off/wrong).