Think blood sugar is a concern only for those with diabetes? Well, think again. It’s actually something everyone should care about because when your levels swing high and fast, it could mess with your focus and sleep. And believe it or not, a lot of fast food meals are built to give you that spike. Here are 10 orders to think twice about.
10. KFC’s Biscuits
KFC’s biscuits are cozy options for breakfast, but they could spike blood sugar levels. One of the culprits is the refined flour used for making the biscuits, which breaks down into glucose quickly. If honey or jam is added, that’s an extra glucose load! Don’t even think about having the biscuits with orange juice or a hash brown.
9. Burger King’s Vanilla Shake
Getting the Vanilla Shake at Burger King is like dumping a massive sugar load on your body. This particular sip has 81 grams of total sugars, even worse than a 12oz Coca-Cola can with 39 grams of sugar. This floods your bloodstream with glucose, causing a rapid spike. Repeated high-sugar spikes can lead to weight gain and insulin resistance.
8. Dunkin’s Glazed Donuts
Dunkin’s glazed donuts are made with refined white flour, and that delicious glaze? It’s an added layer of sugar. These donuts are also low in protein and fiber, so there’s nothing to slow down the absorption of sugar in your body. Fast digestion = fast sugar rush. After an initial spike, your blood sugar may drop (a crash), leaving you feeling tired, irritable, or hungry again.
7. Subway’s The Boss
The Boss can mess with your blood glucose levels more than your expect. Why? Because of the carb + fat combo. It’s a hearty sandwich loaded with multiple meats and cheeses, which are high in fat but low in fiber. It also comes with a white or Italian bread, made from refined flour. The fat content delays blood sugar spikes and makes glucose levels stay elevated for a longer period.
6. Starbucks’ Blueberry Muffin
Starbucks’ Blueberry Muffin is made with enriched wheat flour, which is still a type of refined flour. And you know what happens when this ingredient is present. The blueberries in the muffin are also part of sugary fillings, adding more sugar to your order. To slow the sugar impact, try pairing it with a source of protein like yogurt.
5. Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme
The Crunchwrap Supreme promises a harmonious blend of flavors and textures, but also a rapid blood sugar spike. That’s because it’s made with a (refined) flour tortilla and crispy tostada shell, which can be broken down into glucose quickly. The combination of cheese, ground beef, and sour cream results in a high fat content, contributing to elevated glucose levels for hours.
4. Little Caesars’ Five Meat Feast
For all the meat lovers out there, you might want to reconsider getting the Five Meat Feast pizza because it does impact your blood sugar levels. First, the crust is made with refined white flour. Second, the five types of meats (and cheese) are high in fat. Third, it’s easy to overeat something as indulgent as this. Without self-control, you’ll be looking at elevated blood sugar levels for hours.
3. Wendy’s Large Strawberry Lemonade
Strawberry Lemonade from Wendy’s is a refreshing treat in this summer heat. While that’s true, you also need to know that a large order of this can give you 101 grams of total sugars! That’s a crazy amount of sugar, and with no fiber to slow down absorption, it would rush into your bloodstream fast. So the next time you drop by, choose a smaller size and pair it with a fiber-rich food.
2. McDonald’s Big Breakfast with Hotcakes
This classic breakfast choice from McDonald’s could give you the blood sugar rollercoaster effect (initial spike, followed by a crash). It comes with biscuits and hotcakes that are made with refined white flour. Yes, the sausage and eggs are high in fat and protein, slowing down digestion somewhat. But this also means you might experience a prolonged elevation of blood sugar.
1. Cinnabon’s Classic Roll
We get it, the smell of cinnamon rolls is pure comfort. But think for a second before grabbing one. Cinnabon’s classic roll is loaded with sugar in the dough, in the thick cream cheese frosting, and in the cinnamon sugar topping. Just one roll comes with 59 grams of added sugars! Unsurprisingly, the roll is also made with white flour.