Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load

The Glycaemic index (GI) and Glycaemic load (GL) are important measures of blood glucose control.

• The GI is a measure that ranks foods containing carbohydrates based on how quickly they raise blood sugar levels after being eaten. It compares the impact of a specific amount of carbohydrate in a food to the same amount of carbohydrate from a reference food, typically glucose or white bread.

• The GL is a measure that takes into account the quantity of carbohydrates in a portion of food as well as how quickly it raises blood sugar levels. It provides a more accurate representation of a food’s impact on blood sugar by combining the quality (GI) and quantity of carbohydrates consumed.

What are the GI and the GL?

The higher the values of these indices, the more likely the food is to have a rapid rise in blood glucose levels.

Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load

FRUITS

Low

Medium

High

Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Starchy and non-starchy vegetables

Low

Medium

High

Non-starchy

Starchy