Use this glycemic index calculator to quickly determine the impact of different foods on your blood sugar levels.
How to Use this Glycemic Index Calculator
This tool helps you estimate the glycemic index (GI) of a food item. The glycemic index is a number from 0 to 100 assigned to a food, with pure glucose arbitrarily given the value of 100, which represents the relative rise in blood glucose levels two hours after consuming that food.
To use the calculator, simply input the glucose value that you have from laboratory results for the food item and click “Calculate”. The result field will display the estimated glycemic index for that food item.
How the Calculator Works
The calculator takes the glucose value you provide and uses a comparison method against pure glucose (with a glycemic index of 100) to estimate the GI. The calculation formula is:
GI = (Glucose Value / 100) * 100
This is just a simple calculation meant for demonstration. Real-world GI determination involves clinical testing and comparison of the blood glucose response curve after the intake of 50 grams of the food’s carbohydrates with the response curve of 50 grams of pure glucose.
Limitations of the Calculator
The calculator provided is a simplified model and does not replace clinical or empirical testing. Real glycemic index values are determined through controlled clinical trials on human subjects and cannot be accurately calculated with only one input value.
Furthermore, glycemic index values can be affected by various factors including how the food is prepared, its ripeness, as well as individual responses to the food. Therefore, use the calculated GI as a rough estimate and not a definitive value.