Ice cream glycemic index
Ice cream has a glycemic index of 37, which is low. A 50 g serving (1 scoop) has a glycemic load of 4 (low).
Also known as: vanilla ice cream
- Serving50 g
- Available carbs11 g
- Fiber0.4 g
- Sugars11 g
- Protein1.8 g
- Calories104 kcal
Serving: 1 scoop.
What to know
Ice cream has a low GI because its fat slows sugar absorption. That does not make it a health food: portions are sugar- and calorie-dense, and full-fat versions are high in saturated fat.
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 g | 11 g | 4 | Low |
| 100 g | 23 g | 8 | Low |
What the studies found
The value of 37 is the median of 27 published measurements in the International Tables of Glycemic Index (2021). Results range from 7 to 81. That spread is normal: GI changes with variety, ripeness, cooking and processing, and between labs.
Each dot is one study. Green dots followed the ISO 26642 standard method.
- 7 · Australia 2004
- 24 · Australia 2006
- 25 · USA 2017
- 27 · Australia 2005
- 27 · Australia 2005
- 30 · Australia 2005
- 32 · USA 2017
- 34 · USA 2017
- 34 · USA 2017
- 36 · Australia 2005
- 36 · Canada 1981
- 37 · Australia 2001
- 37 · Australia 2001
- 37 · USA 2017
- 37 · Australia 2000
- 38 · Australia 2000
- 39 · USA 2017
- 39 · USA 2017
- 44 · Australia 2006
- 46 · Australia 2003
- 47 · Australia 2001
- 50 · Australia 1994
- 55 · Australia 2004
- 55 · Australia 2006
- 58 · Italy 1989
- 68 · USA 1989
- 81 · Italy 1989
Ice cream compared with other sweets & desserts
Similar low-GI foods
Know the glycemic index of any meal from a photo
Tables work for single foods. The app estimates the GI and glycemic load of your whole plate, with real portions.
- Scan your plate or just describe it
- GI, glycemic load, calories and macros
- An AI nutritionist that knows your meals
Frequently asked questions
Is ice cream low glycemic?
Yes. With a GI of 37, ice cream is in the low range (55 or less).
What is the glycemic load of ice cream?
A 50 g serving (1 scoop) has a glycemic load of 4, which is low. 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 ice cream?
With a GI of 37 and a low glycemic load per serving, ice cream usually fits a diabetes-friendly diet in normal portions. Everyone responds differently, so talk to your doctor or dietitian about your plan.
How many carbs are in ice cream?
A 50 g serving has about 12 g of total carbohydrate, including 0.4 g of fiber, leaving 11.5 g of available carbohydrate (the part that raises blood sugar). Per 100 g: 23.6 g of carbohydrate.
Nutrition facts
| per 100 g | Serving (50 g) | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 207 kcal | 104 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 24 g | 12 g |
| Available carbs | 23 g | 11 g |
| Fiber | 0.7 g | 0.4 g |
| Sugars | 21 g | 11 g |
| Protein | 3.5 g | 1.8 g |
| Fat | 11 g | 5.5 g |
Source: USDA FoodData Central, Ice creams, vanilla (SR Legacy, FDC 167575). 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.