The Carb Count in Carrots

One medium carrot has about 6 grams of carbohydrates. One-half cup of baby carrots -- the amount the American Diabetes Association suggests for a midday snack -- also contains about 6 grams of carbs. Because carrots have so much fiber, they affect metabolism differently than other carbs.

Fresh carrots (Image: Alicja Bochenek/iStock/Getty Images)

Do These Carbs Count?

Carrots act as an insoluble fiber that assists in digestion. (Image: Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images)

Carbohydrates are classified into three categories: starch, sugar or fiber. Fiber comes from the indigestible part of plant foods -- especially fruits and vegetables with edible skins and seeds. Between 2 and 3 grams of the carb content in a serving of carrots is fiber. Because the fiber content is so high, the sugar content reaches your bloodstream much more slowly than simple sugars do, meaning you're unlikely to get a sugar rush and an insulin spike from carrots.