If you have type 2 diabetes, maintaining a healthy diet is one way to manage your condition effectively. However, for patients taking some of the most common diabetes medications, it is also important to avoid certain foods that may affect how well these drugs work.
This article covers which foods you may need to avoid if you take diabetes medications such as Ozempic®, Jardiance® or metformin.
Topics include:
- Foods to Avoid While Taking Ozempic, Mounjaro® and Similar Drugs
- Foods to Avoid While Taking Jardiance and Similar Drugs
- Foods to Avoid While Taking Metformin
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Foods to Avoid While Taking Ozempic, Mounjaro and Similar Drugs
Ozempic belongs to a group of diabetes medications called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists. Among others, this group includes:
- Semaglutide (Ozempic®, Wegovy®)
- Tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound®)
- Dulaglutide (Trulicity®)
“In general, people living with diabetes should try to limit their consumption of high-fat foods, refined carbohydrates, added sugars and alcohol,” says Shaelyn Gurzick, R.D., C.D.C.E.S., C.N.S.C., a clinical dietitian and diabetes educator at the City of Hope® Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism.
GLP-1 drugs work by slowing down how quickly the body digests food to promote a feeling of “fullness,” which may reduce appetite.
“Fat normally takes longer for our body to digest, so large amounts of fat in combination with these medications may increase the risk of issues like nausea and bloating,” says Gurzick. She recommends focusing on meals that include:
- Lean proteins such as chicken, fish, lentil, and beans
- Whole grains, like oats, quinoa, wheat and barley
- Non-starchy vegetables, including broccoli, eggplant or cauliflower
- Fruit
Gurzick explains that this combination of food types “promotes satiation and blood sugar stabilization.”
Foods to Avoid While Taking Jardiance and Similar Drugs
Medications like empagliflozin (Jardiance) are part of a group of drugs called sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. When taking SGLT-2 medications, it is best to avoid:
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Prolonged periods of fasting
- Dehydration
“With these drugs, you want to make sure you’re not completely restricting carbohydrates or following a very low carb or ‘keto-style’ diet,” she says.
A “keto” diet may increase the amount of ketones in your body — a chemical byproduct your body makes when it breaks down certain cells to maintain blood sugar levels.
“High levels of ketones can lead to an increased risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA,” a potentially life-threatening condition, Gurzick says. “Always consult with a dietitian, diabetes educator, physician or health care professional before starting a very low-carb diet with this medication.”
Foods to Avoid While Taking Metformin
Metformin is a type 2 diabetes medication sometimes prescribed under brand names like Glucophage®, Riomet® or Glumetza®.
As with other common diabetes drugs, metformin works best if you avoid:
- High-fat foods
- Refined carbohydrates
- Too much alcohol
- Food and drinks with high amounts of added sugars
Gurzick says patients should take metformin just before or right after they eat.
“This medication is known to sometimes cause gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea, which can often be improved or managed when taken with food rather than an empty stomach,” she says.
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