Steak n' Shake is a fast-food restaurant that specializes in burgers and milkshakes. As tempting as that may sound, Steak n' Shake isn't the ideal place to go if you're living with diabetes. The good news is that Steak n' Shake has a number of low-carb alternatives if you order them correctly. You should avoid breaded items and starchy side dishes and instead opt for grilled steak and steamed broccoli.

Ordering at Steak n' Shake: A Few Pointers

If you decide to go out and eat at Steak n' Shake make sure you follow these low-carb guideline.

1. Keep track of your carbs

Steak n' Shake is one of the fast-food restaurants that provide nutritional information on their website. Check the nutritional information and count the carbs in your meal to make sure you don't go over your daily recommended amount.

Keep in mind that the nutritional menu items are not modifiable. The calorie breakdown of the bun and the toppings contained, for example, is included in the information for the steakburgers. So if you order a steakburger without the bun, you'll have no idea how many carbs you're eating.

A steakburger has no carbs by itself, according to the nutritional facts. Bacon is also free of carbohydrates. This is an excellent place to begin. Try a bacon-and-cheese steakburger with lettuce, onion, and tomato on top, but remove the bun and ketchup.

When it comes to bunless burgers, you can't go wrong, but be wary of the hidden toppings. Many of the burgers at Steak n' Shake have carbs and empty calories from condiments and sauces. Never order a burger with sauces or condiments on it. The same may be said for salads.

2. Avoid the low-cost options

Value menus deceive you into believing you're getting a good value. Even if you save money, you'll wind up with a lot of food that you won't be able to eat. On the Steak N' Shake menu, there is a section with four dishes for $4. Three kinds of steakburgers and chicken tenders are available. Hold the fries and cookie if you purchase a $4 steakburger meal. As a side dish, choose a side salad without dressing. Don't go for the chicken tenders because they are breaded, which means a lot of carbs.

3. Choose some low-card toppings

Cheese, bacon, and guacamole are among the low-carb options available at Steak n' Shake for your steakburgers. To improve the flavour of your meal without adding carbs, use these toppings instead of sauces and dressings.

What to order at Steak n' Shake if you have diabetes

Taking the bun off the steakburgers allows you to enjoy the most popular item on the menu low carb without having to sacrifice the flavour that consumers have come to expect from Steak 'n Shake. Remember that steakburgers are still heavy in saturated fat and sodium, so you should only eat them on rare occasions and in small portions.

Here are some of the steakburgers that are safe to eat on a low-carb diet without the bun:

• Bacon and cheese double steakburger
• Single bacon cheese steakburger
• Single steakburger
• The original double cheese steakburger
• Triple steakburger

The following are some of the other low-carb alternatives available on the menu:

• Breakfast Bowl Without Hash Browns
• Cheddar Scramble
• Coleslaw
• Garden Fresh Grilled Chicken Salad
• Garden Fresh Salad

What to Avoid Ordering At Steak n' Shake

Some menu items aren't worth attempting to customize if you have diabetes. All fried foods, starchy sides, and sugary beverages are among them. Stay away from the following dishes because they have high amounts of carbs and fats that are not suitable for people who live with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

• All chili dishes
• All milkshakes and desserts
• All soups
• All spaghetti dishes
• All sweetened beverages, including juice, soda, milk and sweet tea
• Biscuits n' gravy bowl
• Chicken fingers
• Chili cheese footlong hotdog
• Country skillet
• French fries and onion rings
• Fried chicken salad 
• Grilled cheese sandwich
• Potato and egg breakfast taco
• Sausage gravy and biscuits
• Spicy chicken sandwich

Bottom line

If you know how to order, Steak n' Shake has a number of low-carb options. They specialize in steakburgers, which may be ordered with or without a bun. Instead of French fries or onion rings, get a side salad. You can also have a grilled chicken salad with oil and vinegar dressing instead of the house dressing.