Allergen Information
Contains: Gluten, Wheat
Nutrition per 100g
Snacks & Sweets › Chocolate & Sweets
Black Licorice for Gestational Diabetes
Black licorice is a traditional confectionery product made from liquorice root extract, sugar, molasses, and a starch or flour binder, frequently wheat flour. It has a distinctive bittersweet, herbal flavor that comes from anethole alongside the natural compound glycyrrhizin. Textures range from soft and chewy strips to firm, salted varieties popular across northern Europe. While some people appreciate its unique taste, it is fundamentally a concentrated sweet treat. For pregnant individuals, both the carbohydrate profile and the presence of natural herbal compounds require careful attention when deciding whether to include it in their routine.
At a glance
Pregnancy safety
LimitBlood sugar impact
mediumCarbs / 100 g
76gIs Black Licorice safe with gestational diabetes?
From a gestational diabetes perspective, black licorice presents distinct nutritional hurdles. It is a dense source of fast-digesting carbohydrates, providing 76 g of total carbohydrates and 46 g of sugar per 100 g, with minimal protein at 3.5 g and dietary fiber at 2 g. Furthermore, maternal health authorities advise limiting glycyrrhizin consumption during pregnancy. Consequently, this confectionery receives a low suitability rating of 1. It is not an ideal everyday snack, though an occasional tiny portion can sometimes be accommodated if your overall eating plan permits and your prenatal team agrees.
Pregnancy safety
Limit how much Black Licorice you eat during pregnancy
Enjoy only occasionally in very small quantities, such as one or two small sweets, rather than regular daily portions.
The Finnish Food Authority and European public health bodies advise limiting confectionery containing natural liquorice root extract during pregnancy due to glycyrrhizin content.
This is about food safety in pregnancy, not blood sugar — it applies whatever your readings look like. Confirm it with your midwife or doctor.
How does Black Licorice affect blood sugar during pregnancy?
Black licorice has a high glycemic index estimated around 72, which reflects the rapid breakdown of refined flour, sucrose, and molasses. Because it contains negligible dietary fat and minimal fiber to slow down stomach emptying, the carbohydrates enter the bloodstream promptly. For many individuals with gestational diabetes, this quick absorption tends to produce an abrupt rise in postprandial glucose readings. Even modest portions can contribute a noticeable glycemic load. If you decide to consume it, checking your blood sugar at the recommended post-meal interval will provide useful individual feedback on how your body responds.
What is a safe portion of Black Licorice for gestational diabetes?
Strict portion control is necessary whenever eating black licorice during pregnancy. A suggested maximum single serving is 20 g, which corresponds to roughly one medium twist or two small bite-sized nuggets. This modest 20 g portion supplies approximately 66 calories and 15.2 g of total carbohydrate, of which 9.2 g is free sugar. Keeping to this tiny amount helps keep both the glycemic load manageable and the total glycyrrhizin exposure low. Eating larger quantities, such as a standard commercial bag of 100 g, would deliver an overwhelming 76 g of carbohydrate.
How should I combine Black Licorice to manage blood sugar during pregnancy?
If you choose to enjoy a tiny 20 g serving of black licorice, avoid having it alone on an empty stomach. Combining it with protein and wholesome fats may help slow gastric emptying and soften the rate of carbohydrate absorption. A sensible pairing could include a handful of raw walnuts, a spoonful of natural almond butter, or a serving of full-fat plain Greek yogurt. Alternatively, reserving this small sweet as a finishing bite immediately following a balanced, fiber-rich lunch or dinner tends to yield a gentler blood glucose trajectory than consuming it as an isolated snack.
Last reviewed: August 31, 2026
Important Safety Information
Every pregnancy is different, and gestational diabetes is managed differently depending on your readings, your medication and how far along you are. The ratings and portions on this page are general information — not a diagnosis, a treatment plan or a medical device — and they cannot see your results.
- Low blood sugar:
- If you take insulin or diabetes medication, eating less carbohydrate than your team planned for can push your blood sugar too low. Treat a reading below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), or symptoms such as shaking, sweating, confusion or a racing heart, with fast-acting carbohydrate immediately and retest after 15 minutes. Never use this page as a reason to skip or shrink a meal you were told to eat.
- Carbohydrate and ketones:
- Cutting carbohydrate hard to force a number down is not safe in pregnancy — it can produce ketones. Published guidance sets a minimum of 175 g of carbohydrate per day in pregnancy. Readings that stay above target for several days need your care team, not a smaller portion.
- Medication and insulin:
- The portions here are generic and know nothing about your insulin doses, your metformin, or the steroids given to mature your baby's lungs — all of which change how a meal affects you. Never adjust a dose or a mealtime based on this page.
- Food safety in pregnancy:
- Blood sugar is not the only thing that makes a food suitable while you are pregnant. Some foods with excellent glycemic numbers still carry mercury, vitamin A, listeria or alcohol risks, and those are judged separately from the ratings shown here. Check your national pregnancy food-safety guidance before adding an unfamiliar food.
- What these ratings can and cannot tell you:
- Glycemic index values, impact ratings and maximum servings are population averages taken from published tables. Two people eating the same food can get very different readings, so your own meter is the only measurement that describes you. Nutrition figures are indicative per 100 g and vary with brand, ripeness and preparation.
Contact your care team the same day if: your readings stay above target for several days; you have a reading below 54 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L) or needed someone else's help to treat a low; you test positive for ketones; or your baby is moving less than usual. Seek emergency care for confusion, fainting, repeated vomiting, or a low you cannot bring back up.
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Sources & Editorial Review
Content independently developed by Dalo Labs ApS, informed by the American Diabetes Association's Standards of Care in Diabetes, ACOG's gestational diabetes guidelines, and the IADPSG consensus criteria. Not endorsed by or affiliated with any referenced organization. · Last reviewed: August 2026
- American Diabetes Association — Management of Diabetes in Pregnancy: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026
- ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 190 — Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (reaffirmed 2026)
- USDA FoodData Central — Nutritional Database
- Atkinson et al. — International Tables of Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Values 2021 (Am J Clin Nutr)
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