Cheese, American, nonfat or fat free & Diabetes
Low glycemic impact for the stated serving. Glycemic load of 4.6 per 100g.
✅ Nutrition data verified · GL 4.6/100g · GI 44 · TIER 3 ⚠️ GI: Subcategory Estimate
GI estimated from food subcategory average — not directly tested on this food. [1] [3]
How This Food Affects Blood Sugar
The Numbers at a Glance
What to Watch For
⚠️ High Sodium
Cheese, American, nonfat or fat free provides 250mg of sodium per serving — significant relative to the ADA's daily recommendation of <2,300mg. High sodium intake can raise blood pressure, compounding cardiovascular risk in diabetes. If you eat this food, balance it with lower-sodium choices throughout the rest of the day.
ADA recommends <2,300mg sodium per day for most adults with diabetes. Diabetes Care, 47(Suppl 1), 2024.
Simple Ways to Balance It
💡 Balance Sodium
Pair with low-sodium foods throughout the rest of your day. Fresh herbs and spices can replace salt as flavoring.
💡 Check Your Own Response
Individual blood sugar responses vary. Use a glucose meter to understand how this food affects you personally.
💡 Glycemic Load Over Glycemic Index
GL accounts for both the speed AND amount of carbohydrate, making it more practical for real-world eating than GI alone.
💡 Pair Carbs With Protein
Adding protein to a carbohydrate-containing meal slows digestion and helps prevent blood sugar spikes.
Worth Comparing
🥛 Butter, salted
GL 0/100g — Low GL
Rated diabetes-friendly — lower glycemic impact than your current selection.
Butter, salted & diabetes →🥛 Butter, without salt
GL 0/100g — Low GL
Rated diabetes-friendly — lower glycemic impact than your current selection.
Butter, without salt & diabetes →🥛 Cheese, Mexican blend
GL 0.1/100g — Low GL
Rated diabetes-friendly — lower glycemic impact than your current selection.
Cheese, Mexican blend & diabetes →🥛 Cheese, goat, semisoft type
GL 0.1/100g — Low GL
Rated diabetes-friendly — lower glycemic impact than your current selection.
Cheese, goat, semisoft type & diabetes →Other Dairy and Egg Products Foods
🥛 Cheese
🟢 Low GL · GL 1.3/100g
🟢 Low GL · GL 7.5/100g
🥛 KRAFT BREAKSTONE'S FREE Fat Free Sour Cream
🟢 Low GL · GL 6.6/100g
Quick Answers
Is Cheese American nonfat or fat free good for diabetes?
With a GL of 4.6, Cheese American nonfat or fat free is in the lowest category for blood sugar impact. It may be a suitable choice within a balanced diabetes eating pattern.
What is the glycemic load of Cheese American nonfat or fat free?
The glycemic load of Cheese American nonfat or fat free is 4.6 per 100g. GL is calculated by multiplying the GI (44) by the available carbohydrates (10.5g) and dividing by 100.
How does Cheese American nonfat or fat free affect blood sugar?
Blood sugar impact of Cheese American nonfat or fat free: Low. The key factors are its GI (44) and available carb content (10.5g/100g), which together produce a GL of 4.6.
Is the GI value accurate?
The GI of 44 for Cheese American nonfat or fat free is estimated (Tier 3), not directly ISO-tested on this specific food. It is based on the weighted average GI of foods in the Dairy and Egg Products category from the International GI Tables (Atkinson et al., 2021). Actual GI may vary by variety, ripeness, cooking method, and individual response. We display estimated values with full transparency so you can make informed decisions.
Is the sodium level a concern?
Cheese American nonfat or fat free contains 250mg of sodium per serving — approaching the ADA's recommendation of <2,300mg daily. High sodium intake can raise blood pressure, compounding cardiovascular risk — the leading cause of death in people with diabetes. If you eat this food, balance it with lower-sodium choices during the rest of the day. Fresh herbs, spices, and citrus can replace salt as flavoring.
References & Data Sources
Data Tier: TIER 3 — estimated from category average
Glycemic Index (GI): 44 — subcategory_avg:Dairy and Egg Products. Source: International GI Tables (Atkinson, Brand-Miller et al., Diabetes Care, 2021). University of Sydney GI Research Service.
GL (per serving, 19.0g) = 4.6 × 19.0 ÷ 100 = 0.9
Nutrition Data: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy Release (April 2018). FDC ID: 170863. Data are in the public domain (CC0 1.0).
GL Classification: ≤10 = Low (Low GL), 11–19 = Moderate (Eat in Moderation), ≥20 = High (Limit). Based on University of Sydney Glycemic Index Foundation classification.
⚠️ GI value is estimated, not directly ISO-tested on this specific food. Actual GI may vary by variety, cooking method, and individual glycemic response.
Cite this page: GlycemicWise. “Cheese, American, nonfat or fat free — Glycemic Load & Diabetes Reference.” GlycemicWise, July 2026. https://glycemicwise.com/foods/cheese-american-nonfat-or-fat-free/
Dietary reference — not medical advice. This page provides evidence-based dietary reference information for general educational purposes. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual blood sugar responses vary significantly. Always check your blood glucose to understand your personal response to foods, and talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before changing your diet. Data sources are cited above and publicly available from the USDA and the University of Sydney Glycemic Index Research Service.