As a diabetic, knowing a food’s glycemic index (GI) lets you make more informed decisions about what you eat, and how much of it you eat. This is because a food’s GI value gives you an idea of how quickly it can raise blood glucose levels. The glycemic index can identify which foods cause wild swings in blood sugar. Here’s a rundown of what foods are part of a low glycemic index diet, and which to avoid. The glycemic index is a measure of how much carbohydrate-containing foods raise blood sugar . Research shows that eating a low glycemic diet can help you manage your blood sugar and weight. A low GI is considered 55 or less. This article reviews all you need to know about the glycemic index , including common foods and their GI values.