Milk, yogurt & alternatives · Glycemic index
Does ice cream spike blood sugar?
Not much. Ice cream has a low GI of 51, and a 66 g serving (½ cup) has a low glycemic load of 8. Ice cream's fat slows the absorption of its sugar, which keeps its average GI low, and a half-cup scoop has a low glycemic load — portion size and calories are the bigger issues.
Key numbers
- Glycemic index
- 51
- Low GI
- Glycemic load
- 8
- Low GL
- Available carbs
- 15 g
- 0.5 g fiber
- Serving
- ½ cup
- 66 g · regular vanilla
GI vs GL for ice cream
The glycemic index (GI) compares how fast the carbohydrate in a food raises blood sugar against pure glucose (100), using a fixed amount of carbohydrate. The glycemic load (GL) adds the other half of the story — how much carbohydrate a normal serving actually contains: GI × available carbs ÷ 100. For ice cream: 51 × 15 g ÷ 100 ≈ 8.
That figure is an average reported in the 2008 international GI tables (“Ice cream: 51 ± 3 (average of multiple studies)”). Reduced- and low-fat ice creams averaged 36 across 17 products in the 2021 tables, and two premium high-fat ice creams tested 37 and 38 in the 2008 tables.
Eating a different amount? Work out the glycemic load of your portion.
How to eat ice cream with less of a spike
- Measure a half-cup scoop into a small bowl.
- Top it with berries instead of syrup, sauce or cookies.
- Have it after a meal that included vegetables and protein rather than as a stand-alone snack.
Other low-GI choices
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Frequently asked questions
What is the glycemic index of ice cream?
Ice cream has a glycemic index of 51, which is low. That figure is an average reported in the 2008 international GI tables (“Ice cream: 51 ± 3 (average of multiple studies)”). A 66 g serving (½ cup) contains about 15 g of available carbohydrate, giving a glycemic load of 8 (low).
Is ice cream good for prediabetes?
A half-cup of ice cream now and then fits within a prediabetes eating plan. Serve a measured scoop in a small bowl rather than eating from the tub.
Why does ice cream have a lower GI than bread?
Mostly because of its fat: meals with fat are converted into blood sugar more slowly. Ice cream averaged 51 in the 2008 tables, against 73 for white bread in 2021. A lower GI doesn't make ice cream a health food — it is still high in sugar and calories.
Sources
GI values come from the international GI tables; carbohydrate and fiber per serving are calculated from USDA FoodData Central.
- Atkinson FS, Foster-Powell K, Brand-Miller JC. International tables of glycemic index and glycemic load values: 2008. Diabetes Care. 2008;31(12):2281–2283, Table 1
- USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 167575: Ice creams, vanilla
- Atkinson FS, Brand-Miller JC, Foster-Powell K, Buyken AE, Goletzke J. International tables of glycemic index and glycemic load values 2021: a systematic review. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021;114(5):1625–1632, Supplemental Table 1
- Atkinson FS, Foster-Powell K, Brand-Miller JC. International tables of glycemic index and glycemic load values: 2008 — online appendix, Table A1
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, The Nutrition Source — Carbohydrates and Blood Sugar
- Shukla AP, Iliescu RG, Thomas CE, Aronne LJ. Food order has a significant impact on postprandial glucose and insulin levels. Diabetes Care. 2015;38(7):e98–e99
Data last checked .