Gravy, brown, dry & Diabetes
High glycemic impact — occasional choice only. Glycemic load of 33.1 per 100g.
✅ Nutrition data verified · GL 33.1/100g · GI 57.6 · TIER 3 ⚠️ GI: Subcategory Estimate
GI estimated from food subcategory average — not directly tested on this food. [1] [3]
Glycemic Impact
Nutrition Profile
What to Watch For
⚠️ High Sodium
Gravy, brown, dry provides 4843mg 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.
Alternatives to Consider
🥣 Soup, beef broth or bouillon canned, ready-to-serve
GL 0/100g — Low GL
Rated diabetes-friendly — lower glycemic impact than your current selection.
Soup, beef broth or bouillon canned, ready-to-serve & diabetes →🥣 Soup, SWANSON, beef broth, lower sodium
GL 0.1/100g — Low GL
Rated diabetes-friendly — lower glycemic impact than your current selection.
Soup, SWANSON, beef broth, lower sodium & diabetes →🥣 Soup, beef broth, less/reduced sodium, ready to serve
GL 0.1/100g — Low GL
Rated diabetes-friendly — lower glycemic impact than your current selection.
Soup, beef broth, less/reduced sodium, ready to serve & diabetes →🥣 Soup, beef broth or bouillon, powder, prepared with water
GL 0.1/100g — Low GL
Rated diabetes-friendly — lower glycemic impact than your current selection.
Soup, beef broth or bouillon, powder, prepared with water & diabetes →Related Soups, Sauces, and Gravies Options
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gravy brown good for diabetes?
Gravy brown should be limited for diabetics. A GL of 33.1 is firmly in the high range. If it's a food you love, try reducing the portion dramatically or swapping for a lower-GL version.
What GL value does Gravy brown carry?
GL = 33.1 per 100g for Gravy brown. For context: low GL is ≤10, moderate is 11–19, and high is ≥20. Gravy brown falls into the High category.
How quickly does Gravy brown raise blood sugar?
Blood sugar impact of Gravy brown: High. The key factors are its GI (57.6) and available carb content (57.4g/100g), which together produce a GL of 33.1.
Is the GI value accurate?
The GI of 57.6 for Gravy brown is estimated (Tier 3), not directly ISO-tested on this specific food. It is based on the weighted average GI of foods in the Soups, Sauces, and Gravies 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.
Can portion control make this food work?
Yes — half a standard serving of Gravy brown reduces the glycemic load substantially. At GL 33.1 per 100g this is a dense source, but a half portion makes a meaningful difference. The key is mindfulness: use it as a side dish, not the main event, and fill most of your plate with non-starchy vegetables and lean protein.
Is the sodium level a concern?
Gravy brown contains 4843mg of sodium per serving — well above 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.
Where This Data Comes From
Data Tier: TIER 3 — estimated from category average
Glycemic Index (GI): 57.6 — subcategory_avg:Soups, Sauces, and Gravies. Source: International GI Tables (Atkinson, Brand-Miller et al., Diabetes Care, 2021). University of Sydney GI Research Service.
GL (per serving, 100g) = 33.1 × 100 ÷ 100 = 33.1
Nutrition Data: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy Release (April 2018). FDC ID: 171565. 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. “Gravy, brown, dry — Glycemic Load & Diabetes Reference.” GlycemicWise, July 2026. https://glycemicwise.com/foods/gravy-brown-dry/
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.