Hypoglycemia Sugar Alert: 5 Dangerous Fast Foods

If you or someone you love has hypoglycemia and blood sugar problems, choosing the right foods can make a difference between life or death. While fast food restaurants like Wendy's, Arby's, and Mc Donald's offer convenience and savory quick food, they often have menu items which can easily send any diabetic or hypoglycemic for a terrible blood sugar crash.

Quick disclaimer: Always discuss any type of diet or food choices with your medical professional. Hypoglycemia is a serious illness that should be under a doctor's care.

French Fries

Fried, salted, seasoned, waffled, or curled, fast food French fries pack in a ridiculous number of carbohydrates in each serving. Couple that with processed hamburger buns, a soda, and a fast food sundae, and you could easily set yourself up for a hypoglycemic crash. What is the best French fries alternative? Try to get a side salad or small yogurt instead of fries. If neither of these options are available, you might want to buy your sandwich without the meal. Save yourself a few bucks and save your health, too.

Large Milkshakes

These cups of creamy, sugary yumminess often top over 1000 calories, and can have up to 100 grams of sugar. If you have hypoglycemia blood sugar problems, a milkshake is the last thing that you need to drink down. Believe it or not, even some smoothies can compete with milkshakes for sugar content. What is a good alternative? If you must drink a milkshake at your favorite burger joint, then just make sure that you order a kid's size or drink half of a small size milkshake. Never drink down the large or extra-large size milkshake unless you want to send yourself to the hospital. Even better? Just order a kid size cup of ice cream, which often has less concentrated sugar than a milkshake.

White Hamburger Buns

Not only are white hamburger buns from Burger King, Mc Donald's, and other fast food joints full of preservatives, they are full of carbohydrates that will negatively affect you blood sugar. Some places, like Subway, will let you choose a wrap instead of a sandwich. You can ask for whole wheat bread or just opt to eat a burger without the bun. Notice the difference in your hypoglycemia when you don't chow down on sugar rich hamburger buns. By the way, fast food versions of whole wheat bread are often only slightly better than the white bread versions. A wrap, or salad, is always a better option if you have hypoglycemia or blood sugar problems.

Breaded Chicken or Fish

Chicken McNuggets, Burger King's Chicken Sandwich, and Long John Silver's fried fish all pack in lots of carbohydrates and unnecessary fats into their breaded meat selection. A grilled option is always better than any breaded or fried option if you have hypoglycemia. If you have to choose something breaded, try to get a smaller serving of the select chicken. For example, three chicken strips are usually better than a chicken sandwich at most fast food joints. Broiled fish at Captain D's, for instance, will not affect your blood sugar like their fried catfish. Remember that you want to limit the amount of carbohydrates and sugar in your meals to keep your hypoglycemia in balance.

Soda (Diet or Regular)

Both diet and regular soda have two no-no's for hypoglycemia: caffeine and sugar. Regular soda has a ridiculous number of calories, as well. Besides the high caffeine and sugar levels, regular Coke, Pepsi, or RC Cola packs in tons of calories.

Take care of your hypoglycemia by limiting the amount of sugar and caffeine that you take in each day. When you eat at fast food restaurants like Burger King or McDonald's, be sure to avoid the most dangerous of the foods. If you are not sure about the sugar content of your fast food, request pamphlet with the nutritional information listed. Many fast food places, like Subway or Mc Donald's, will have this information readily available. Take care of your hypoglycemia and take care of you.

Sources:

Sugar Stacks. "Beverages". Sugar Stacks.com