According to the CDC, over 37 million people in the US have diabetes.
This means that 10% of the population suffers from diabetes.
While there are different types of diabetes, the most predominant is type 2 diabetes.
Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas. It acts as a key to allow sugar (glucose) in the cells.
When you eat a food high in carbs, the pancreas releases insulin to prevent blood glucose levels from rising.
However, in some cases, insulin doesn’t work properly (insulin resistance), or not enough insulin is released.
As a way of compensating, the pancreas starts producing more and more insulin until it gets to a point where it can no longer keep up. As a result, it leads to diabetes.
Currently, there are several antidiabetic medications available. They all help reduce blood glucose levels through several mechanisms.
One option is empagliflozin, commonly known as Jardiance.
Jardiance is an oral medication that removes excess blood glucose and releases it through the urine.
Along with a healthy diet, Jardiance can help reduce blood sugar levels a reduce the risk of diabetes complications.
Keep reading to learn more about foods to eat and avoid while taking Jardiance (empagliflozin).
5 Foods To Avoid While Taking Jardiance (Empagliflozin)
Here are some foods you might want to avoid when taking Jardiance either because they increase blood glucose levels or they might cause side effects from the medication.
1) Sugar and Sweets
The purpose of Jardiance is to help reduce blood glucose levels. However, consuming sugar and sweets have the opposite effect.
They can actually increase blood sugar levels. So, while sugar and sweets won’t cause any interaction with Jardiance, they counteract the purpose of the medication.
Evidence suggests that reducing the intake of sugar and sweets can naturally help reduce blood glucose levels, which can enhance the results of Jardiance.
Keep in mind that sugar is not only available in obvious sources such as honey, candy, syrups, and sugar.
You can also find hidden sugars in options such as sauces, yogurt, cereals, and granola. For that reason, make sure you check the nutritional label before purchasing a product.
While people with diabetes don’t need to completely avoid sugars and sweets, a good goal is to consume less than 10% of the total daily calories from sugar, representing 20 to 25 grams of sugar daily. The lower the intake, the better.
2) Refined Grains
Sugars and sweets are not the only foods that can increase blood glucose levels. Refined grains can also have a negative effect on blood glucose levels.
On top of that, they are low in nutrients and fiber, meaning they will only be a source of calories and nothing else.
Some examples of refined grains include:
- White bread
- Pasta
- Cookies
- Pastries
- Cake
- White rice
3) Caffeine
Currently, there is no known interaction between Jardiance and caffeine. However, one of the side effects of Jardiance is dehydration due to more frequent urination.
Caffeine has diuretic effects on the body, which can also help you go to the bathroom more frequently.
Combining Jardiance and caffeine, which can have diuretic effects, can increase the risk of dehydration if not careful.
For that reason, be careful with caffeine sources such as coffee, tea, and chocolate.
4-5) Green Tea and Garlic
Finally, it seems that green tea and garlic, especially in supplement form, can help reduce blood glucose levels.
While this is a positive thing, taking a medication that also helps reduce blood glucose levels can result in hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels).
Keep in mind that this is when they are taken in large quantities. It won’t have negative effects if you cook with a couple of garlic cloves or have a cup of green tea occasionally.
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5 Foods To Eat When On Jardiance
Here are some foods you want to include in your diet to get the best results when taking Jardiance.
These foods can help reduce side effects from the medication or help you get more stable blood glucose levels.
1) Whole Grains
Most people believe that diabetes means you can never consume carbs, which is a completely wrong concept. People with diabetes can eat carbs in moderation and from the right sources.
Whole grains take longer to digest, and thanks to their high fiber content, they can help release glucose molecules slower, preventing them from raising blood glucose levels.
So, instead of choosing refined grains, switch them for whole grain options such as:
- Oatmeal
- Whole grain bread
- Beans
- Lentils
- Chickpeas
- Quinoa
2) Non-Starchy Vegetables
Non-starchy vegetables such as mushrooms, leafy greens, zucchini, eggplant, celery, cucumber, and tomatoes are great sources of nutrients and fiber.
Since they are low in carbs, they won’t spike your blood sugar levels, making them an ideal food to add if you want to manage your condition. And they can act as a great replacement if you want to help decrease your carb intake.
Here are some ideas for using vegetables to replace high-carb foods:
| High-Carb Food | Low-Carb Replacement |
| Pasta | Zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash |
| Rice | Broccoli or cauliflower rice |
| Pizza | Cauliflower pizza |
| Mashed potatoes | Cauliflower mash |
| Chips | Zucchini chips |
3) Healthy Fats
Healthy fats can help stabilize blood glucose levels. Examples of healthy fats to eat include:
- Avocado
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Olives
- Oils (olive oil, avocado oil, and flaxseed oil)
One of the benefits of fats is that they take longer to digest. As a result, combining healthy fat with a carb helps release sugar slower into the bloodstream, resulting in more stable blood glucose levels.
4) Protein-Rich Foods
Just like fats, proteins also take longer to digest, meaning they can help produce more stable blood glucose levels.
The following foods can help promote slower glucose release when combined with a high-carb food:
- Eggs
- Greek yogurt
- Chicken
- Meat
- Fish
- Seafood
However, be careful about the fat intake when adding proteins. A high saturated fat intake can lead to insulin resistance, worsening blood glucose levels. Keep your saturated fat intake to less than 7% of daily calories.
5) High Probiotic Foods
Finally, one of the most frequent side effects when taking Jardiance is an increase in urinary tract infections.
Reducing the sugar intake can help decrease the risk of them. But another thing that can help overcome this side effect is having strong gut health.
Research shows that probiotics can help women with recurrent urinary tract infections. So, including the following probiotic-rich foods can help reduce the risk of urinary tract infections.
- Kombucha
- Kefir
- Sauerkraut
- Kmchi
- Miso
- Tempeh
If you are not so keen on adding probiotic foods, you can always add a probiotic supplement. However, make sure you speak with a doctor before supplementing.
| Foods to avoid | Foods to eat |
| Sugar and sweets | Non-starchy veggies |
| Refined grains | Whole grains |
| Caffeine | Healthy fats |
| Green tea supplements | High-protein foods |
| Garlic supplements | Probiotic-rich foods |
Other Things To Consider When On Jardiance
Stay Hydrated
Since Jardiance can increase the risk of dehydration, ensure you get enough water throughout the day.
If you don’t know how much water you need, divide your weight (pounds) by half to get the minimum amount of ounces of water for the day.
For example, if you weigh 180 lbs, you should drink 90 ounces of water daily.
Remember not to count any caffeinated drink towards your water intake since it has diuretic effects.
Avoid Alcohol
There are no known interactions between alcohol and Jardiance. However, alcohol can have hypoglycemic effects.
So, when combined with a medication with the same effect, it can lead to low blood sugar levels, putting you at risk.
Drink alcohol in moderation and avoid drinks with high sugar, such as cocktails and those mixed with sodas or fruit juices.
Interactions With Other Medications
Jardiance might interact with other antidiabetic medications. Make sure you tell your doctor all the medications you are currently taking to ensure there won’t be any possible Jardiance drug interactions.
Be Careful With Chromium Supplements
Evidence suggests that chromium can help reduce blood sugar levels. For that reason, some people take chromium supplements.
Be careful with mixing chromium supplements and Jardiance since they might lower blood glucose levels too much.
Should You Take Jardiance With Food?
You can take Jardiance with or without food. It doesn’t work like any other antidiabetic medications where you need to take it around meals to prevent low blood sugar levels.
In this case, you take Jardiance only once a day at any time or the time recommended by your doctor.
Conclusion
Jardiance is an oral antidiabetic medication that helps lower blood glucose levels by releasing extra glucose molecules through urine.
While it can help manage your condition, remember that it needs to go hand-in-hand with proper nutrition, exercise, and other lifestyle changes.
Foods you want to avoid when taking Jardiance include sugar, refined grains, caffeine, green tea, and garlic supplements.
On the contrary, foods you want to include in your Jardiance diet are whole grains, non-starchy vegetables, healthy fats, protein-rich foods, and high-probiotic foods.
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