Coca-Cola glycemic index
Coca-Cola has a glycemic index of 63, which is medium. A 250 ml serving (1 glass) has a glycemic load of 16 (medium).
Also known as: cola, Coke, soda, soft drink
- Serving250 ml
- Available carbs26 g
- Fiber0 g
- Sugars25 g
- Protein0 g
- Calories105 kcal
Serving: 1 glass.
What to know
Regular cola has a medium GI, but a 250 ml glass has a higher glycemic load than a slice of white bread, and a large bottle several times more. Liquid sugar is absorbed quickly and does not fill you up.
Glycemic load by portion size
GI stays the same whatever you eat, but glycemic load scales with the amount: eating twice as much doubles the effect on blood sugar.
| Amount | Available carbs | Glycemic load | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ml | 5.2 g | 3 | Low |
| 100 ml | 10 g | 7 | Low |
| 250 ml · 1 glass | 26 g | 16 | Medium |
| 500 ml · double serving | 52 g | 33 | High |
What the studies found
The value of 63 is the mean calculated by the authors of the International Tables of Glycemic Index (2021) across 4 studies. Results are fairly consistent (53 to 77).
Each dot is one study. Green dots followed the ISO 26642 standard method.
- 53 · Australia 2006
- 63 · USA 2000
- 73 · Italy 2011
- 77 · USA 2019
Coca-Cola compared with other drinks
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Frequently asked questions
Is coca-cola low glycemic?
No. With a GI of 63, coca-cola is in the medium range (56 to 69). Low GI is 55 or less.
What is the glycemic load of coca-cola?
A 250 ml serving (1 glass) has a glycemic load of 16, which is medium. Glycemic load combines GI with the amount of carbohydrate in the portion: 10 or less is low, 11 to 19 medium and 20 or more high.
Can people with diabetes eat coca-cola?
With a GI of 63 and a medium glycemic load per serving, coca-cola can be part of a diabetes-friendly diet with attention to portion size and pairing it with protein, fat or fiber. Everyone responds differently, so talk to your doctor or dietitian about your plan.
How many carbs are in coca-cola?
A 250 ml serving has about 26 g of total carbohydrate, including 0 g of fiber, leaving 26 g of available carbohydrate (the part that raises blood sugar). Per 100 g: 10.4 g of carbohydrate.
Nutrition facts
| per 100 g | Serving (250 ml) | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 42 kcal | 105 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 10 g | 26 g |
| Available carbs | 10 g | 26 g |
| Fiber | 0 g | 0 g |
| Sugars | 9.9 g | 25 g |
| Protein | 0 g | 0 g |
| Fat | 0.3 g | 0.6 g |
Source: USDA FoodData Central, Beverages, carbonated, cola, regular (SR Legacy, FDC 174852). Available carbohydrate = total carbohydrate minus fiber.
Sources: 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. USDA FoodData Central. How we calculate each value: Methodology & sources.
Data last reviewed 2026-09-29.