Carrots and Their Effect on Blood Sugar (2024)

Blood sugar, or glucose, is the amount of sugar in your blood. It comes from the food you eat. Your body needs it for energy, but too much can cause problems. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can lead to type 2 diabetes or worsen your disease.

Carrots can be a safe choice if you have diabetes and are watching your blood sugar levels. They’re also non-starchy vegetables. So you can even enjoy small amounts of carrots if you’re following the ketogenic, or keto, diet.

Glycemic Index

This measures how much some foods and drinks raise your blood sugar levels. It runs on a scale of 1 to 100. A score of 100 means the food has the same effect on your body as eating a type of sugar called glucose.

The lower the glycemic index (GI), the slower your blood sugar rises. Raw carrots have a GI of 16. The GI for boiled carrots ranges from 32 to 49. That puts carrots in the low glycemic food group:

  • Low glycemic index: 1-55
  • Medium glycemic index: 56-69
  • High glycemic index: 70 or higher

The glycemic index for any food will go up if you cook or prepare them with honey or other carbohydrates. Still, carrots are high in fiber, so that helps slow down how quickly they release the sugar. They also have a lower glycemic index than other root vegetables like potatoes.

Glycemic Load

The glycemic index isn’t the only number you should watch. Another is glycemic load. It combines the glycemic index with the serving size to give you a total picture of the effect on your blood sugar. Eating low glycemic index food but a lot of it will raise the glycemic load.

Two small raw carrots have a glycemic load of about 8. That also puts carrots in the low glycemic load group:

  • Low glycemic load: 1-10
  • Medium glycemic load: 11-19
  • High glycemic load: 20 or higher

Low Glycemic Index Vegetables

Fresh vegetables are mostly water. They also pack a lot of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. And many are low on the glycemic index, including:

Carrots and Their Effect on Blood Sugar (2024)

FAQs

Carrots and Their Effect on Blood Sugar? ›

A medium carrot contains only 4 grams (g) of net (digestible) carbs and is a low glycemic food. Foods that are low in carbs and low on the glycemic index tend not to have a very large effect on blood sugar levels. Research also suggests that the nutrients in carrots may benefit people with diabetes.

Do carrots affect blood sugar? ›

“Carrots are considered a nonstarchy vegetable, along with options such as broccoli and lettuce,” Ficek says. “These foods are safe for people with diabetes to eat at each meal without worry that glucose levels will spike.”

Does carrot have reducing sugar? ›

The 2% glucose so lution was used as an “ internal standard'' on each sheet because Rs/— carrots range from 2% to 5% reducing sugar, whereas rs/rs roots contain 0.1% to 1.5% reducing sugar over a wide array of genotypes and growing con ditions.

What foods will lower blood sugar quickly? ›

5 Superfoods to Lower Your Blood Sugar
  • Berries. Don't make your trip to the store fruitless. ...
  • Go nuts. That's right—go ahead and snack on almonds, cashews or even pistachios. ...
  • Leafy greens. ...
  • Non-starchy vegetables. ...
  • Whole grains.

Are raw carrots high in sugar? ›

Carrots are somewhat higher in natural sugars than many vegetables. This has led some weight loss plans to recommend consuming the veggie in limited quantities.

What vegetables spike blood sugar? ›

Starchy potatoes

“Potatoes are a vegetable, but the health value of all vegetables are not interchangeable. White potatoes in particular have a very high glycemic load. As a result, a baked white potato can also raise blood sugar even more than a glazed doughnut.”

What foods raise blood sugar quickly? ›

Quick Carbohydrate Guide for Treating Low Blood Sugars
  • 5 small gum drops.
  • 12 gummy bears.
  • 6 large jelly beans.
  • 5 Life Savers.
  • 15 Skittles.
  • 1 Tablespoon honey, jam or jelly.
  • 1 Tablespoon sugar in water.
  • 4 Starburst.

What can I eat for breakfast that won't raise my blood sugar? ›

To keep your blood sugar stable, opt for carb sources that release energy slowly. Oats, whole wheat bread, and fruit, are good choices, dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine said. For a protein-packed breakfast, try baked oats, chia pudding, or avocado and eggs on wholegrain toast.

What are the 5 worst foods for blood sugar? ›

You limit dairy products, red meat, sweets, added sugars, sodium (salt), and highly processed foods. Some additional guidelines include focusing on seasonal produce and reading food labels to help you avoid added sodium and sugar.

What should I eat if my sugar is high? ›

These 10 picks can help you manage blood sugar levels and keep your numbers in check.
  • Unsweetened or Plain Yogurt. ...
  • Blueberries. ...
  • Beans. ...
  • Leafy Greens. ...
  • Dates. ...
  • Glucerna® Shakes and Bars. ...
  • Steel-cut Oats. ...
  • Mushrooms.
Nov 6, 2023

What are the three worst drinks for blood sugar? ›

The 3 worst drinks
  • regular soda.
  • energy drinks that contain sugar.
  • fruit juices.

What happens if I eat a bag of carrots everyday? ›

Is it okay to eat carrots every day? Eating carrots in moderation is good for your health. Eating carrots in excess, however, can cause a condition called carotenemia. This refers to yellowish discoloration of the skin because of the deposition of a substance called beta-carotene that is present in carrots.

How many carrots can a diabetic eat a day? ›

A suitable portion of cooked carrots is generally around ¾ cup or approximately 75 grams. Again, these serving sizes can be adjusted based on personal preferences and dietary needs. Carrots are considered a healthy choice for diabetes due to their high fiber content and beneficial nutrients.

What happens if we eat carrots at night? ›

And while some vegetables may not be the best thing to consume before you try to get some shut eye, carrots are one of the vegetables that will promote sleep as they contain the alpha-carotene nutrient as well as potassium.

Why do carrots spike blood sugar? ›

The glycemic index for any food will go up if you cook or prepare them with honey or other carbohydrates. Still, carrots are high in fiber, so that helps slow down how quickly they release the sugar. They also have a lower glycemic index than other root vegetables like potatoes.

Do carrots turn to sugar when cooked? ›

They way we chew soft, cooked carrots will cause different flavours to be released, according to food scientist Lindsey Bagley. Furthermore, she says, "chemically, there are more sugars in a raw carrot than in a boiled carrot", which will have leaked sweetness into the cooking.

What vegetables don't affect blood sugar? ›

Anyone with diabetes might be surprised to learn certain foods minimally impact sugar levels, including: Carrots. These are considered non-starchy (as are string beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, broccoli, asparagus and cauliflower) and good in a diabetes diet. High-fiber grains.

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