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Diabetic Fast Food Diet

Diabetes affects how you metabolize blood sugar. If you have diabetes you have too much glucose in your blood, which can lead to serious health problems. Following your diabetic diet plan is important. But if you are like most other people, your busy life and hunger pangs often drive you in the direction of a fast-food restaurant. This can present a challenge when you are trying to be attentive to your diet. But it is possible to make healthful choices at the fast-food restaurant.

  1. Translate Menu Language

    • Learn how to translate the language on menus into useful information. Foods that are listed as fried, stuffed or creamed are high in fat, as are foods prepared with cheese, butter, oil, mayonnaise or tartar sauce. Always look for foods that are grilled, and avoid "crispy," which probably means deep fried.

    Look for Health Claims on Menus

    • Look for food selections that claim they are "Heart Healthy" or "Light." All restaurants, even fast-food chains, must follow requirements for these health claims and meet criteria established by the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The following restaurant chains provide a nutrition analysis of the foods on their menus: Arby's, Blimpie, Boston Market, Burger King, Carl's Junior, Domino's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Little Caesars, McDonald's, Papa John's, Pizza Hut, Quiznos, Schlotzsky's, Soup Plantation & Sweet Tomatoes, Starbucks, Subway, Taco Bell and Wendy's.

    Count Carbs

    • Be aware of the carbohydrates, sodium and added sugars in foods. The obvious culprits are white breads, white potatoes, desserts and regular sodas. But did you know that barbeque, sweet and sour and teriyaki sauces are also high in carbohydrates? Forgo these and other sauces. The low-fat caramel dip that accompanies McDonald's Apple Dippers has 70 calories and 15 grams of carbohydrates. Discard the bun when you order a burger. A Big Mac bun contains 39 grams of carbohydrates, 370 mg of sodium and half a gram of saturated fat.

    Smaller is Better

    • Avoid supersizes. Instead, stick to traditionally sized meals. When you choose the smaller portions of the classics, you save on fat and calories. A regular McDonald's hamburger has 250 calories and 9 grams of fat--compared to a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese, which has 740 calories and 42 grams of fat.

    Ask for Substitutes

    • Ask for fruit (without dipping sauce) or a salad with a light vinaigrette dressing, instead of the fries. Beware, not all salads are healthy. Taco Bell's taco salad, even without the shell, has 490 calories, 11 grams of saturated fat, 2 grams of trans fat and 43 grams of carbohydrate.
      McDonald's Apple Dippers without the dipping sauce has 35 calories and 8 grams of carbohydrates, while a medium fries has 380 calories, 19 grams of fat and 48 grams of carbohydrates.
      Substitute ketchup or mustard for mayonnaise and tartar sauce. Mayonnaise can add at least 160 calories and 18 grams of fat to a food selection. Burger King's menu lists sandwiches with and without mayonnaise to make healthy choices easier.

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