The
Daily
Fix
15-minute AMRAP
Parmesan-Crusted Chicken
What Causes a Paradoxical Rise in Fasting Glucose on Keto?
Complete as many rounds as possible in 15 minutes of:
15 weighted box step-ups
30-second L-sit hold
45 double-unders
Parmesan-coated chicken breasts, smothered in a creamy mushroom and artichoke sauce, finished with smoky bacon crumbles.
How long-term low-carb adaptation can raise fasting glucose without signaling disease
Men hold 35-lb dumbbells and step to a 20” box.
Women hold 25-lb dumbbells and step to a 20” box.
Post rounds completed to comments.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (6 oz each)
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup almond flour
2 large eggs, beaten
3 Tbsp butter or beef tallow (for frying)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Sauce
3 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
2 Tbsp butter or beef tallow
2 cups mushrooms, sliced
1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup chicken broth (unsalted)
½ cup heavy cream
2 oz cream cheese
½ tsp dried thyme (or 1 tsp fresh)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Optional Garnish
Fresh parsley, chopped
Extra Parmesan
Macronutrients
(per serving, makes 4)
Protein: 55g
Fat: 50g
Carbs: 9g
Preparation
Pat chicken breasts dry. Season with salt and pepper. Dredge each breast in almond flour, dip in beaten eggs, then coat with Parmesan, pressing to adhere.
Heat 3 Tbsp butter or tallow in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (165°F internal). Remove and keep warm.
In the same skillet, cook diced bacon until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving bacon fat in the pan.
Add 2 Tbsp butter or tallow to the pan. Sauté mushrooms 4–5 minutes until browned. Stir in artichokes and garlic; cook 2 minutes. Deglaze with chicken broth. Add heavy cream, cream cheese, thyme, salt, and pepper. Simmer 4–5 minutes until thickened and creamy.
Return chicken to the pan, spoon sauce over the top, and simmer 2 minutes to warm through.
Top with crispy bacon crumbles, garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan if desired. Serve hot.
Some individuals following a long-term low-carbohydrate or ketogenic diet observe a mild but persistent rise in fasting blood glucose, a finding that can appear paradoxical given minimal carbohydrate intake. This article explains how this response reflects a normal, adaptive shift in glucose regulation rather than metabolic dysfunction. As dietary carbohydrate remains low, insulin demand declines, peripheral tissues reduce glucose uptake, and the liver assumes primary control over blood glucose through gluconeogenesis—resulting in slightly higher fasting levels despite overall metabolic stability.
Rather than indicating diabetes or insulin resistance in a pathological sense, this pattern—often referred to as adaptive glucose sparing—occurs alongside favorable metabolic markers such as stable HbA1c, low triglycerides, and preserved insulin sensitivity. In the absence of inflammation or other signs of metabolic disease, mildly elevated fasting glucose in this context represents a reversible physiological state shaped by long-term carbohydrate restriction and reflects a return to a liver-regulated glucose economy rather than a breakdown of glucose control.
THURSDAY 260115