Glycemic Load
Glycemic load (GL) combines the glycemic index of a food with the amount of carbohydrate you actually eat.
Plain English
Patient-Friendly Explanation
Glycemic load (GL) combines the glycemic index of a food with the amount of carbohydrate you actually eat — a more realistic measure of a food's effect on blood sugar.
Medical
Clinical Definition
GL = GI (%) × carbohydrate content (g) ÷ 100. It corrects the limitation of GI by accounting for portion size, and correlates more closely with postprandial glycaemia in mixed meals. Lowering dietary GL is associated with improved glycaemic control and reduced cardiometabolic risk in intervention studies.
Key Insight
Why It Matters
A low-GI food eaten in a huge portion can still spike glucose; GL fixes that by combining the quality and the quantity. It is the more practical number for patients counting portions of rice and noodles.
Sources
Reviewed against standard medical references.
Medically reviewed by
Family Physician & Registered Acupuncturist, Accord Medical Clinic. MBBS (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture (Singapore College of TCM).
Last reviewed: August 2026
This page is general health education, not medical advice. Whether any treatment is appropriate for you is a decision made in consultation after assessment.
