Orange juice, canned, unsweetened & Diabetes
Low glycemic impact for the stated serving. Glycemic load of 5.3 per 100g.
✅ Nutrition data verified · GL 5.3/100g · GI 49.1 · TIER 3 ⚠️ GI: Subcategory Estimate
GI estimated from food subcategory average — not directly tested on this food. [1] [3]
Blood Sugar Response
Nutrition at a Glance
How This Version Compares
For calories, this one sits in the middle of its Orange juice family: 47 per 100g against a 37-148 per 100g spread. On protein, this version lands mid-range: 0.7 per 100g, inside a family spread of 0.6 to 2.4 per 100g.
Verdicts split across the family: the gentlest option is Includes from concentrate (GL 5.5) and the heaviest is Unsweetened (GL 16.1); this one is low gl. Glycemic load across the 10-item Orange juice group runs 4.1 to 16.8 per 100g, so the version matters as much as the food. Compare directly with Unsweetened, Unsweetened, Includes from concentrate.
Glycemic Load by Serving Size
| Portion | Weight | Carbs | Glycemic Load | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ½ Serving | 16g | 1.8g | 0.8 | Friendly |
| Standard Serving | 31g | 3.4g | 1.6 | Friendly |
| Restaurant Portion | 62g | 6.8g | 3.3 | Friendly |
GL ≤10 = Low (Friendly) · 11–19 = Moderate · ≥20 = High (Limit).
The page-level verdict is based on GL per 100g; this table shows how portion size changes the actual GL you get.
Related Fruits and Fruit Juices Options
Foods to Try Instead
🍎 Olives, pickled, canned or bottled, green
GL 0.3/100g — Low GL
Fiber 3.3g/100g. Rated diabetes-friendly — lower glycemic impact than your current selection.
Olives, pickled, canned or bottled, green & diabetes →🍎 Avocados, raw, all commercial varieties
GL 0.9/100g — Low GL
Fiber 6.7g/100g. Rated diabetes-friendly — lower glycemic impact than your current selection.
Avocados, raw, all commercial varieties & diabetes →🍎 Avocados, raw, California
GL 0.9/100g — Low GL
Fiber 6.8g/100g. Rated diabetes-friendly — lower glycemic impact than your current selection.
Avocados, raw, California & diabetes →🍎 Avocados, raw, Florida
GL 1.1/100g — Low GL
Fiber 5.6g/100g. Rated diabetes-friendly — lower glycemic impact than your current selection.
Avocados, raw, Florida & diabetes →Simple Ways to Balance It
💡 Eat Whole, Not Juiced
Whole fruit contains fiber that buffers sugar absorption. Juices remove this fiber, causing a faster glucose spike.
💡 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.
Questions People Ask
Is Orange juice good for diabetes?
Based on its glycemic load of 5.3, Orange juice falls within the diabetes-friendly range. This suggests lower blood sugar impact for the stated serving size. This is a dietary reference, not individual medical guidance.
Where does Orange juice sit on the glycemic load scale?
GL = 5.3 per 100g for Orange juice. For context: low GL is ≤10, moderate is 11–19, and high is ≥20. Orange juice falls into the Low category.
What happens to blood sugar after eating Orange juice?
The primary way Orange juice affects blood sugar is through its carbohydrate content (11.0g/100g). With a GI of 49.1 (low) and limited fiber, this produces an overall GL of 5.3 (Low).
Is the GI value accurate?
The GI of 49.1 for Orange juice is estimated (Tier 3), not directly ISO-tested on this specific food. It is based on the weighted average GI of foods in the Fruits and Fruit Juices 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.
Data Sources
Data Tier: TIER 3 — estimated from category average
Glycemic Index (GI): 49.1 — subcategory_avg:Fruits and Fruit Juices. Source: International GI Tables (Atkinson, Brand-Miller et al., Diabetes Care, 2021). University of Sydney GI Research Service.
GL (per serving, 31.1g) = 5.3 × 31.1 ÷ 100 = 1.6
Nutrition Data: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy Release (April 2018). FDC ID: 169099. 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. “Orange juice, canned, unsweetened — Glycemic Load & Diabetes Reference.” GlycemicWise, July 2026. https://glycemicwise.com/foods/orange-juice-canned-unsweetened/
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.