Understanding the Carb Count in Sausage Biscuits | Tips for Diabetics

Understanding Carbs in Sausage Biscuits

Sausage biscuits can be a convenient and tasty breakfast option, but it's important to understand their carb content if you are managing your blood sugar levels or following a low-carb diet. This article provides an in-depth look at the amount of carbs in different types of sausage biscuits, along with tips for enjoying them as part of a healthy diet.

The Carb Content of Biscuits

The main source of carbs in a sausage biscuit is obviously the buttermilk biscuit itself. A standard-sized fast food biscuit contains about 23 grams of total carbohydrates, accounting for nearly all of the carbs you'll get in a plain sausage biscuit sandwich.

Most of these biscuit carbs come from refined wheat flour. Biscuits are essentially savory scones, made by cutting cold butter into flour to create flaky layers. This means the flour is not whole grain and contains very little fiber, so those carbs will spike blood sugar levels rapidly.

The Role of Sausage in Carb Content

Compared to biscuits, the sausage patty or sausage links in a sandwich contribute very little to the carb content. Pork sausage contains around 1 gram of carbs per 2-ounce serving. Beef or turkey sausage have even less.

Meat processors add a small amount of breadcrumbs or oats to the ground meat in sausages to bind the mixture together. But the carb numbers are negligible, especially in comparison to the biscuit carbs.

How Homemade Biscuits Compare

Making your own biscuits at home allows you to control the ingredients and potentially lower the carbs. However, a standard homemade recipe using all-purpose flour will still contain about 20 grams of carbs per large biscuit.

Here are some tips for reducing carbs in homemade biscuits:

• Use a low-carb alternative to all-purpose flour like almond flour, coconut flour, or carb-reduced baking mix
• Cut back slightly on the amount of flour in the recipe
• Increase fat and protein ingredients like cheese or egg whites to compensate for less flour
• Add in seeds like poppy, sesame, or flax for more nutrition and texture

Low-Carb Sausage Biscuit Alternatives

If traditional buttermilk biscuits don't fit your dietary needs, there are several tasty ways to get your sausage biscuit fix with fewer carbs:

Biscuit Style

• Keto biscuits - There are many keto-friendly low-carb biscuit recipes made with almond flour, coconut flour, psyllium husk, and cheese in place of wheat flour.

• Portobello mushroom buns - Sliced, roasted portobello caps can substitute for biscuits in breakfast sandwiches.

• Lettuce wrapped - Using large butter lettuce leaves in place of biscuits removes the carbs completely.

Bread Style

• Protein bread - Bread made with added protein and fiber tends to be lower in total carbs with a gentler impact on blood sugar.

• Cloud bread - This very low-carb bread substitute uses only eggs, cream cheese, and cream of tartar.

The possibilities are endless when you get creative with swapping out the traditional biscuit! You can craft the perfect sausage sandwich for your dietary needs, while keeping the savory sausage flavor you crave.

Tips for Enjoying Sausage Biscuits On a Healthy Diet

There's no need to give up your favorite breakfast sausage biscuit when managing carbs or blood sugar. Here are some tips to help you work it into a healthy diet:

Watch Portion Sizes

When made with a regular biscuit, one small sausage biscuit contains over 20 grams of carbs. Be mindful of portion size and consider splitting a sandwich with a friend or saving half for later.

Pair With Protein and Fat

Eating protein and fat with carbs can help blunt the blood sugar spike. For a balanced breakfast, enjoy your biscuit along with scrambled eggs, bacon or breakfast sausage links on the side.

Check Your Blood Sugar

Test your blood sugar levels before and about 1-2 hours after eating sausage biscuits to understand exactly how they impact your body. This helps you make informed choices about how often to indulge.

Sausage biscuits can absolutely be part of an overall balanced approach to managing carbs and blood sugar. With a little planning and smart nutrition strategies, you can still enjoy this classic comfort food even with diabetes or on a carb-conscious diet.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.