Yes – if you choose wisely and in moderation. When choosing menu items at McDonald's for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, pay attention to nutritional values. Count those carbs and serving limits. Carbohydrates have the potential to affect your blood sugar levels faster than fats or proteins.
Fried Chicken Restaurants
In general, poultry is a smart choice while following a diabetes-friendly diet—except when it's breaded or dipped in flour and fried. This version adds not just carbs but saturated fat and calories as well to menu items at restaurants like KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) and Popeyes.
“When ordering Chinese, focus on dishes packed full of lean proteins and vegetables with limited rice and noodles,” advises Palinski-Wade, who suggests ordering steamed chicken and broccoli with the sauce on the side.
Barbecued or grilled meat or fish starters are likely to be lower in fat than richer dishes, so opt for chicken satay, tikka, mixed grills or tandoori. Scan the menu for steamed or boiled dishes like steamed rice, noodles with vegetables, grilled meat and fish dishes.
Avoid Fried Foods Like French Fries and Chicken Nuggets
Fried foods are usually breaded, which can add up to lots of carbohydrates, unhealthy fats, and calories, says Kimberlain. Too much fat in your diet can lead to weight gain, she adds, which can worsen type 2 diabetes.
French fries are a food you may want to steer clear of, especially if you have diabetes. Potatoes themselves are relatively high in carbs. One medium potato contains 34.8 grams of carbs, 2.4 of which come from fiber ( 53 ).
Morgan Spurlock : In fact, there are only 7 items on the McDonald's menu that contain no sugar whatsoever. French Fries, Chicken Mcnuggets, Hash Browns, Sausage, Diet Coke, Coffee, and Iced Tea.
Breakfast ideas for people with diabetes include the old faithful Egg McMuffin which, according to the McDonald's website, will provide just 300 calories, 18 grams of protein and 12 grams of fat.
Fast foods are not the best option for people with diabetes, as they offer a number of foods high in sugar, salt, and fat. Even healthier options are often still highly processed. People should check their blood sugar 2 hours after a fast food meal to see how it has affected them.
Try these additional tips when ordering: Order single burgers, not double or triple patties, and go for chicken, turkey, or veggie burgers instead of beef burgers. Avoid fried meats and even fried fish; instead, choose grilled or broiled sandwiches or platters.
Aside from breakfast - Yes, you can enjoy a genuine Subway sandwich if you have diabetes. You'll need to forego the white bread and instead pick the 9-grain wheat bread. Subway creates this delicious bread completely from whole wheat. If you pick a mini whole wheat sandwich, then you are looking at 27 carbs.
There's a myth about chocolate and diabetes. But you can eat chocolate, just in moderation and not too often. Try not to eat a lot in one go as it affects your blood sugar levels. If you snack on chocolate regularly it may start to increase your cholesterol levels and make it more difficult to manage your weight.
People with diabetes can eat pasta but should choose whole grain types and watch their portion size. Diabetes-friendly pasta recipes may include alternative types of pasta, along with healthy vegetables, protein, and low-fat sauces.
We know air frying is better than traditional frying because it cuts down on fat and calories typically added when frying in oil. So, in that sense, air fried foods are the better choice when you have diabetes, especially if you're looking to lose or maintain weight.
People with type 2 diabetes should limit or avoid high-fat cuts of meat, such as regular ground beef, bologna, hot dogs, sausage, bacon, and ribs, because like full-fat dairy, they're high in saturated fats, explains Kimberlain.
How many slices of pizza can a person with diabetes eat? Well, that depends on who you ask. Some suggest ½ a slice, while others say two slices should be the maximum amount. Other factors determine your daily carb intake, including your activity level and food choices.
How often can a people with diabetes have a cheat meal? “Cheating once a week for normalcy is acceptable. However, cheating every other day can become an issue”, Shilpa added.