What do bread units mean?

Зеро калорій
Автор
30.03.2026
post1

Bread units: what they are and why they are needed
Bread units (BLU) are a conventional system for counting carbohydrates in food. It is most often used by people with diabetes to control blood sugar levels and correctly select the dose of insulin.

What is 1 bread unit?
One bread unit is approximately 10–12 grams of digestible carbohydrates. This amount of carbohydrates is contained, for example:

  • approximately 25 g of bread (one small piece),
  • half a cup of cooked cereal or pasta,
  • one small apple,
  • one medium-sized potato.

After consuming 1 XO, the blood glucose level usually increases by approximately 1.5–2 mmol/l, although the exact reaction depends on the human body.
Why count bread units?
The XO system helps:

  • control blood glucose levels;
  • plan meals correctly;
  • calculate insulin doses before meals;
  • avoid sudden sugar fluctuations.