Chickpeas (cooked): GI, GL, Carbs & Blood Sugar Impact

Glycemic index of chickpeas (28), glycemic load, carbs per cup, and why chickpeas are a diabetes-friendly staple.

Category: Legumes · Nutrition data source: USDA FoodData Central · GI source: International Tables of GI & GL Values / University of Sydney · Last verified:
28 Glycemic Index Low
9.1 Estimated GL 1 cup cooked (164 g)
44.9 g Carbohydrate per 1 cup cooked (164 g)
12.5 g Fiber per 1 cup cooked (164 g)

Do Chickpeas Raise Blood Sugar?

A cup of cooked chickpeas has about 45 g of carbohydrate, 12.5 g of fiber and 15 g of protein, with a consistently low published GI around 28. The GL stays low even at generous portions.

How to Eat It

A staple for diabetes-friendly eating: salads, stews, hummus (portion-aware, since tahini and oil add calories), or roasted as a snack.

Nutrition Facts (Chickpeas (cooked))

NutrientPer 100 gPer serving
Calories164 kcal269 kcal
Carbohydrate27.4 g44.9 g
Fiber7.6 g12.5 g
Sugars4.8 g7.9 g
Protein8.9 g14.6 g
Fat2.6 g4.3 g

Source: USDA FoodData Central (generic food item, per 100 g edible portion). Values may differ from brand-specific products.

Glycemic Index

Published GI: 28 (typical value).
Reported range: 28-33.
Evidence level: Moderate.
Note: Consistently low GI.

Sources: International Tables of Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Values (2008/2021); University of Sydney GI Database (glycemicindex.com). GI values are reported relative to a glucose reference.

Learn more: What is GI? · What is GL? · GI vs GL

Estimated Glycemic Load

GL ≈ 9.1 per 1 cup cooked (164 g).

Calculation: GI (28) × available carbohydrate per serving (32.5 g = 27.4 g − 7.6 g fiber) ÷ 100. Calculated by DMSafeHaven; formula per standard published GL methodology.

Diabetes consideration: Great staple for diabetes-friendly eating; the GL stays low even at a generous portion.
What can change the impact?
  • Canned vs. dried (check added salt)
  • Portion size

GI values can vary with variety, ripeness, preparation and testing conditions. The value above is a typical published figure, not a universal prediction for every individual or every serving.

DMSafeHaven provides educational information based on publicly available nutrition databases and published research. It is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Nutrition values: USDA FoodData Central (CC0). GI values: published tables (see methodology). GI/GL estimates do not predict any individual's glucose response — test your own blood glucose with your care team's guidance.