I got home a little late last night and headed straight for the freezer to see if I could find something quick to eat before resting. You guessed right, I found nothing! Looking so frustrated and exhausted, my husband proposed to order some pepperoni pizza from Domino’s, and I’m not gonna lie, I was so grateful.
After eating, I started feeling guilty. I began to feel like I did something wrong to my sugar levels and offended my diet plan and even the dietician. I knew I made a mistake, so this is me trying to make things right by letting you in on everything you need to know about Domino’s pizza for diabetics.
Why we love Domino’s Pizza
Whenever you mention fast delivery, customer satisfaction, and deliciousness in one sentence, everyone knows you’re talking about Domino’s Pizza.
The speed at which their pizza can get to your doorstep has made Domino’s become the first dinner/snack choice for many families and friends, thereby increasing its reputation and making it one of the most popular pizza chains in the world.
Due to the growth of the company, Domino’s Pizza has continually improved, expanded, and diversified its products, to meet the needs of almost all types of consumers and also to cater to a wide range of taste buds.
They have so many variants of pizza, some of which include special options, all types of crust options, even vegan and gluten-free options, and the most exciting part, toppings! Yes, Domino’s Pizza offers a wide range of customizable toppings or even sauces that you can choose from.
Aside from all those exciting details, the real reason why people love Domino’s pizza is the quality of their pizzas. Domino’s Pizza has been consistent with the quality of its products and even the ingredients. They emphasize the use of fresh and 100% mozzarella cheese, fresh dough that they use every day, and guess what? Fresh vegetables!!
However, even with all these ups, has Domino’s Pizza proven to be a healthy food choice?
Is Domino’s Pizza healthy?
Pizzas are kind of complicated, as they contain quite a lot of different things, depending on what you choose, and when it comes to Domino’s, they have quite the collection. However, I’ll be emphasizing mainly the plain cheese pizza, because it’s the basic pizza option that the brand offers.
In a cheese or any pizza, all the major ingredients include;
- Pizza dough: The pizza dough is a mixture of flour, water, yeast, little amounts of butter or oil, and some salt.
- Sauce: tomato sauce acts as a flavorful base for the pizza, and this sauce is usually seasoned with some herbs, i.e., oregano, garlic, and basil.
- Mozzarella cheese.
- More seasoning or olive oil for added flavor.
This standard pizza is not considered healthy for you, especially if you’re thinking of following a healthy, nutrient-dense, and balanced diet because
- It’s high in saturated fat, carbohydrates, sodium, and occasionally some added sugars.
- Contains little or no fiber, which is essential in slowing down the absorption of carbohydrates or sugar, in turn regulating blood flow.
- High in sodium.
The tomato sauce can also offer some vitamins and antioxidants, while the cheese provides you with high amounts of protein and calcium and can be effective in regulating blood sugars. However, to make a healthier choice, you can place orders with vegetable toppings; there are various kinds. Ask for thin-crusted pizza with some lean meats for added proteins.
Can Diabetics Eat Domino’s Pizza?
Diabetics can eat a slice to four of Domino’s pizza per sitting. While the dough consists of mainly processed wheat flour, which could easily be digested and passed to the bloodstream quickly, causing a spike, they usually contain chunks of meat, cheese, and some veggies, which can help mitigate this spike, but it is best to follow the below rule:
- Ensure that your daily carb intake is measured and all you eat falls in line.
- You can choose to take two tablespoons of vinegar before consuming highly processed foods—it helps in regulating the blood sugar spikes.
- I sometimes consume some avocados and chunks of meat like chicken before eating pizza or the like, and my blood glucose monitor shows a minimal spike, which doesn’t last for long as compared to when I consume the pizza without a proactive measure.
Final Thoughts
Pizza is usually not the best choice for diabetics. It could cause a sustained spike in your blood sugar if consumed excessively, due to the processed wheat flour used in making it.
For a safer alternative, you could consider using diabetic-friendly flours (coconut, almond), cheese, meats, and fiber toppings. You can also sweeten the dough with natural sweeteners stevia (which are known to regulate blood sugar levels according to studies) instead of sugars.
