Introduction

Grains have fed humanity for millennia, but for people with diabetes they are a careful equation between energy and glucose. The type of starch and the way it is cooked matter as much as the amount on the plate.

The Science

Fast, slow and resistant starch

Starch is not one thing. Rapidly digested starch spikes glucose quickly; slowly digested starch releases it gradually; and resistant starch largely escapes digestion in the small intestine, behaving more like fibre. Whole, minimally processed grains carry more slow and resistant starch.

Cooking and cooling matter

Cooking method changes the starch structure. Interestingly, cooking starchy foods such as rice or potato and then cooling them increases their resistant-starch content, which can lower the glucose response even after gentle reheating — one reason a cooled-and-reheated rice can be a smarter choice.

Processing raises the response

Highly processed starches — instant noodles, fried or frozen-then-fried potato — are digested fast and are best limited. Choosing intact grains and modest portions keeps starches workable within a diabetes plan.

Want help turning numbers like these into a dosing decision? Flona estimates carbs and supports your insulin decisions every day.

Foods in This Category

394 foods from Grains & Starches are covered in this encyclopedia. Each links through to a full safety and portion breakdown.

Showing 51–100 of 394 — page 2 of 8.

FoodSafety (well-controlled)Carbs / 100 g
Cooked bulgurUse caution18.6 g
Cooked freekehNeeds care18 g
Cookies Filled With Hazelnut Spread Biscuits, Cookies Filled With Hazelnut Spread (Nutella)Lower impact64.3 g
Cookies, oatmeal, dry mixLower impact67.3 g
Cookies, oatmeal, reduced fatLower impact64.6 g
Cookies, oatmeal, refrigerated doughLower impact59.1 g
Corn on the cob (boiled)Needs care19 g
Corn on the cob (grilled)Needs care19.5 g
Cowpeas stew with rice (chicken half)Use caution34.5 g
Cowpeas stew with rice (chicken quarter)Use caution34.4 g
Cowpeas stew with rice (meat 125g)Use caution34.4 g
Cowpeas stew with rice (meat 250g)Use caution34.5 g
Creamy mushroom pasta (béchamel)Use caution19 g
CroissantNeeds care45 g
DENNY'S, french friesUse caution35.2 g
Digiorno, Pizza, Three Meat (Nestle USA Inc.)Needs care26.2 g
DISCONTINUED_LEAN CUISINE Frozen Meal Pasta PrimaveraNeeds care12.3 g
Doritos Cool Ranch (Frito Lay)Lower impact64.3 g
Doritos Ranch (Frito Lay)Lower impact60.7 g
Doritos Tapatio (Frito Lay)Lower impact57.1 g
Egg sandwich (small, toast)Needs care17.6 g
Eggplant stew with rice (rice 40 g)Lower impact14 g
Egyptian (Short-Grain) RiceUse caution28.2 g
Egyptian msaltatUse caution45 g
Egyptian short-grain rice cooked (side)Use caution28 g
Fast foods, bagel, with breakfast steak, egg, cheese, and condimentsUse caution23 g
Fast foods, bagel, with egg, sausage patty, cheese, and condimentsNeeds care22.6 g
Fast foods, english muffin, with cheese and sausageLower impact25.3 g
Fast foods, english muffin, with egg, cheese, and canadian baconLower impact21.7 g
Fast foods, english muffin, with egg, cheese, and sausageLower impact17.4 g
Fast foods, quesadilla, with chickenNeeds care24 g
Fattoush no breadLower impact5.1 g
Fattoush with breadNeeds care11.9 g
Filled With Crispy Wafer (Nutella)Lower impact63.6 g
Flax bread sliceLower impact34 g
Flour, rice, brownUse caution75.5 g
Flour, rice, white, unenrichedUse caution79.8 g
Freekeh (green wheat)Lower impact23 g
Fresh Curly fries (large)Use caution40 g
Fresh Curly fries (medium)Use caution40 g
Fresh Curly fries (small)Needs care40 g
Fresh Curly fries (upsize)Use caution40 g
Fresh French fries (large)Use caution32 g
Fresh French fries (medium)Use caution32 g
Fresh French fries (small)Needs care32 g
Fresh French fries (upsize)Use caution32 g
Fresh fries (large)Use caution32 g
Fresh fries (medium)Use caution32 g
Fresh fries (small)Needs care32 g
Fresh fries (upsize)Use caution32 g

Safest Picks vs. Use Caution

Within grains & starches, some items are gentler on blood sugar than others even at the well-controlled level. Use this quick split as a starting point, then confirm portions in the full directory above.