Carbs in pizza
Per 1 slice cheese pizza, 14-inch regular crust (107 g)
36g
Total carbs
3g
Fiber
33g
Net carbs
4g
Sugars
Values are typical for the stated serving, consistent with USDA FoodData Central; brands and preparations vary. GI reference: glucose = 100.
What pizza actually does
Pizza is the textbook delayed-rise food. The fat from cheese and oil slows stomach emptying, so the crust's carbs sit in a holding pattern and arrive over several hours instead of all at once. Many people with T1 look fine at the one-hour mark, feel like they nailed it, and then watch a long climb start around hour two or three. Each slice is roughly 35–40 g of carbs, and most people eat two or three, so the total load is substantial too. Deep dish and stuffed crust push both the carbs and the delay even further.
The famous late riser — often flat at first, then climbing 2–4 hours after eating.
Worth trying
Starting with a salad and keeping it to a set number of slices makes the load more predictable. Watching your CGM for the full 4 hours after pizza teaches you your personal pattern fast.
Common questions
Why does pizza spike me hours after I eat it?
The fat in cheese and oil slows how fast your stomach empties, so the crust's carbs are released gradually over 2–4 hours instead of the usual 1. Your glucose can look flat at first and then climb long after the meal. This delayed pattern is so consistent that it is often just called the pizza effect.
How many carbs are in a slice of pizza?
A typical slice from a 14-inch regular-crust cheese pizza runs about 35–40 g of carbs; thin crust is less, deep dish and stuffed crust can be 50 g or more per slice. Toppings barely change the carbs — the crust is where they live.
Related foods
Real quick — we’re not your doctor. Everything on this page is general information, not medical advice, and diabetes is deeply individual. CarbLens AI never recommends insulin doses. Use what you learn here to have smarter conversations with your care team.
See what pizza does to YOUR blood sugar.
Averages are averages. CarbLens AI logs your meal and shows the 3-hour curve your own body produced.
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