SugarHigh Team
What Is the Glycemic Index? Definition and Bands
Short answer: the glycemic index (GI) ranks how quickly the carbohydrate in a food tends to raise blood glucose compared with pure glucose, which is set at 100. Source context: Atkinson 2008 International Tables (PMC2584181).
The bands SugarHigh uses
| Band | GI range | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 55 or less | Diabetes Canada |
| Medium | 56 to 69 | Diabetes Canada |
| High | 70 or more | Diabetes Canada |
What GI does not tell you
GI is measured on a fixed amount of carbohydrate, not on a typical plate. Portion size needs glycemic load. See glycemic index vs glycemic load.
Where SugarHigh numbers come from
Food guides on this site cite published GI tables (usually Atkinson 2008) and USDA FoodData Central for carbs and fiber. Scan results in the app are estimates. SugarHigh never invents a GI value that is not in the source data for that food.
FAQ
What is a low GI food?
A food with GI 55 or less on the scale used here.
Is GI medical advice?
No. SugarHigh is a food awareness and tracking app.
Why do values differ between guides?
Variety, ripeness, processing and cooking all change measured GI.
