Glycemic Load Calculator Formula

Understand the math behind the glycemic load calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.

Use the Glycemic Load Calculator

Formulas Used

Glycemic Load

glycemic_load = (glycemic_index * carbs_per_serving) / 100

Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
glycemic_indexGlycemic Index (GI)55
carbs_per_servingCarbs Per Serving(g)30

How It Works

How to Calculate Glycemic Load

Formula

GL = (GI x Carbs per serving) / 100

Glycemic Load Scale

  • Low: 10 or less
  • Medium: 11-19
  • High: 20 or more

    • Why GL is Better Than GI Alone

    Glycemic index only measures how fast a food raises blood sugar. Glycemic load also accounts for how much carbohydrate is in a typical serving. Watermelon has a high GI (72) but low GL (4) because a serving has few carbs.

    Worked Example

    Calculate GL for a food with GI 55 and 30 g carbs per serving.

    glycemic_index = 55carbs_per_serving = 30
    1. 01GL = (55 x 30) / 100 = 16.5.
    2. 02This is a medium glycemic load.

    Ready to run the numbers?

    Open Glycemic Load Calculator