Type 2 diabetes is a medical condition in which your blood sugar can’t be on normal levels, The body will no longer produce enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose present in the food to go into cells from energy, However with less insulin resistance, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, leading to high blood sugar levels. The main risk factors of diabetes include being overweight, high cholesterol, and Unhealthy diet. Since there is no cure for type 2 diabetes, it can be controlled by doing changes in your lifestyle like diet, exercise, and medications.
One of the popular medicines people take to manage type 2 diabetes is Metformin. It helps to control the blood sugar levels so blood sugar can’t go high and also helps in improving insulin. However, while taking metformin keep in mind to work on your diet as well. There are some foods that reduce the effectiveness of metformin or can cause serious side effects so always look at your diet while taking this medicine. In this article we will discuss in detail about the list of certain Foods to Avoid While Taking Metformin, so you can have all the dietary information about food that can be a hurdle in your diabetes journey so lets start.
Foods to Avoid While Taking Metformin
Here are the foods to avoid while taking Metformin, which can help manage blood sugar levels effectively:
1. High Sugar Foods and Drink
High-sugar foods and drinks can cause problems when you are taking metformin for type-2 diabetes as their sugary items can raise your blood sugar levels quickly. The main work of metformin is to manage and keep your sugar levels normal by improving insulin sensitivity, it also minimizes building of glucose in areas like the liver. However if you take these sugary items like foods and drink while having metformin can reduce the effectiveness of this medicine. In order to maintain a better and controlled sugar level by avoiding the risk of complications related to type 2 diabetes. Always maintain a healthy and balance diet by avoiding the list of high sugar foods and drink as follow:
List of High-Sugar Foods to Avoid While Taking Metformin:
List of High-Sugar Drinks to Avoid While Taking Metformin:
2. Refined Carbs
Another food that can reduce the effects of metformin is Refined Carbs. It is processed food that breaks down into glucose when you consume it. The result of this leads to massive increases in blood sugar levels. The higher levels of blood sugar can’t even be controlled by metformin in some cases so It is better to avoid refined carbs food. If you are looking for a better and sugar controlled option you can consume whole grains like wheat, bread, brown rice, vegetables and fruits etc. These whole grain items take time to absorb and provide instant energy to your body.
List of Refined Carbs to Avoid While Taking Metformin:
3. Fried and Processed Foods
Another food on this list that can cause side effects like high blood sugar level are fried and processed foods. As we discussed earlier, metformin does help in controlling your sugar levels but diet also plays a major role in keeping blood sugar levels normal. The best and most important change you can do in your diet is to remove these fried and processed foods. These food items can interfere with the effectiveness of metformin and make blood sugar levels worse. Fried and processed foods are often high in trans fats and saturated fats, which are known to promote insulin resistance more. It can also cause weight gain issues.
List of Fried and Processed Foods While Taking Metformin:
4. High-sugar fruits
Like other foods high in sugar, refined carbs and processed food items, high-sugar fruits also have negative impacts when you are a type-2 diabetes patient and taking metformin to manage your blood sugar levels. Fruits are good for our diet and plays an important role when it about energy boosting but on the other hand it contains a lot of natural sugar and do negative impact if you are a sugar patient as it raise blood sugar levels so In order to keep a balance diet and stay healthy while taking medicine like metformin for type-2 diabetes avoid or remove high- sugar fruits from your diet.
List of High-Sugar Fruit While Taking Metformin:
5. High-fat foods
When managing type 2 diabetes with Metformin, maintaining a healthy diet while avoiding some food items in order to control blood sugar levels. Metformin works in improving insulin sensitivity and try to keep blood glucose level normal, Consuming foods that are high in fats can leads to negative impact on your diabetes journey as fat food contain high saturated fats can worsen insulin, It also have some other side effects like weight gain and heart problems so try to avoid or eliminates high fat foods from your diet.
List of High-fat foods Fruit While Taking Metformin:
6. Dairy products with added sugars
Another food item that can cause a negative impact on your metformin course in type-2 diabetes, are dairy products with added sugars. While dairy products provide important nutrients like calcium, protein, and vitamin D, adding sugar in it can be harmful especially if you are a type-2 diabetes patient. Dairy products Increased Blood Sugar Spikes which result in increasing blood sugar levels to high. It also has some other side effects like weight gain and issues in Digestion. In order to get the best result in your diabetes journey avoid consuming these dairy products.
List of Dairy products with added sugars to avoid while taking metformin:
7. Alcohol
When managing type 2 diabetes with Metformin, it’s crucial to be cautious about alcohol consumption. While moderate alcohol intake might be safe for some people with diabetes, certain types of alcohol can negatively affect blood sugar levels and interfere with how Metformin works in your body.
What You Should Drink Instead:
10 Best foods to eat while on metformin
When you are taking metformin for managing type 2 diabetes you are going to avoid some food from your diet in order to get impactful results from this medicine. On the other hand there are also some foods which help you to gain energy, keep normal blood sugar levels and promote overall health. Below are the 10 best foods to incorporate into your diet while on Metformin:
1. Leafy Greens: They are good for your health because they are Low in carbohydrates and calories. Leafy green is also full of nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Fiber helps in slowing down the absorption of sugar which results in keeping your blood sugar level moderated. Try to include leafy greens like Kale, spinach, and Swiss in your diet to get best results.
2. Whole Grains: They are good to take while you are using metformin for diabetes as they also contain fiber, which helps in slowing down glucose production in the bloodstream it results in a stable blood sugar level. Whole grain also contains B vitamins and zinc which supports your overall digestive health. Try to add oats, quinoa, brown rice, and whole-wheat bread in your diet.
3. Fatty Fish: Another item that is good to take when you are using metformin is Fatty fish. As fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, which helps in improving overall health includes heart problems as well as diabetes issues. Try to add Salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna, trout in your diet to get good results.
4. Nuts and Seeds: They are good to take while you are using metformin for diabetes as they also contain fats, protein and fiber, which helps in slowing down glucose production in the bloodstream and results in a stable blood sugar level. It also contains vitamin E, and magnesium. Which supports your overall health. Try to add Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds, sunflower seeds in your diet.
5. Legumes: They are good to take while you are using metformin for diabetes as they also contain protein and fiber, which helps in slowing down glucose production in the bloodstream and results in a stable blood sugar level. They are also low on the glycemic index, meaning they have a minimal effect on blood sugar. Try to add Lentils, chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans, peas in your diet.
6. Avocados: They are good to take while you are using metformin for diabetes as they also are rich in monounsaturated fats, which helps in slowing down glucose production in blood stream and results in a stable blood sugar levels. They also have vitamins C, E, K, and potassium.
7. Berries: They are good to take while you are using metformin for diabetes as they are low in sugar and high in fiber and antioxidants, which help improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation. They also have vitamin C which helps in overall health. Try to add Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries in your diet for some good results.
8. Sweet Potatoes: They are good to take while you are using metformin for diabetes as they are a healthy source of complex carbohydrates and fiber which help improve insulin sensitivity and helps in keeping a normal blood sugar levels. They also have vitamins C, vitamin A and potassium which helps in overall health. Try to add sweet potatoes in your diet for some good results.
9. Greek Yogurt (Unsweetened): They are good to take while you are using metformin for diabetes as they are an excellent source of protein and contain probiotics that support gut health. Choose unsweetened varieties to avoid added sugars that can spike blood glucose. They are also High in protein, calcium, and probiotics which helps in overall health. Try to add Greek Yogurt in your diet for some good results.
10. Olive Oil: They are good to take while you are using metformin for diabetes as It contains monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, which can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation. It is also Rich in healthy fats, vitamin E, and antioxidants like polyphenols. which helps in overall health. Try to add olive oil in your diet for some good results.
What should you do if you eat food you shouldn’t while taking metformin?
Maintaining a healthy and restricted diet by avoiding a number of foods while taking metformin is important in managing a normal blood sugar level but if you accidently eat food that you should have been avoiding while taking metformin then don’t panic. Stay calm and do the following steps to find any potential effects on your blood sugar levels. Here are some steps, have a look.
After eating foods from the avoiding list I provide, Monitor your blood sugar levels for 30 minutes or every hour to find if your body reacts to the food intake you did.
- I would suggest you to go for a short walk that will help in food digestion and reduce the increase of insulin sensitivity.
- Drinking water can also be helpful for you at this point as it helps to flush out excess sugar which enters the body from having certain food items.
- Do not drink beverages that could further spike your blood sugar, such as sugary sodas or juices.
- Continue taking metformin as prescribed, don’t skip it even if you consume foods from the avoided list.
If you notice any kind of side effect in your body after eating something you shouldn’t while on Metformin, contact your healthcare provider.
What other metformin interactions should you watch for?
Like avoiding some food items while taking metformin, you should also avoid some other interactions which are as follow:
Medications
Like food items there are some other medications which result in negative impact on your body while taking metformin. These include certain:
- Diabetes Medications like Sulfonylureas, Thiazolidinediones and DPP-4 inhibitors.
- Medications Affecting Kidney Function
- Blood pressure medications
- Cholesterol medications
How Metformin and Exercise Work Together
When taking metformin you should keep a balanced diet and avoid certain foods to get best results. There is something else that can help you too that is exercise. Taking metformin and also doing some exercise can help you in keeping blood sugar levels normal and a balance plan. Some good exercises are listed below:
Aerobic Exercise: Do activities like walking, swimming, cycling, jogging, and dancing are great for improving cardiovascular health and insulin sensitivity. The time duration you can take is around 30 to 150 minutes a week.
Strength Training: Include exercises like weightlifting, bodyweight, they help in weight loss, building lean muscle mass which helps in balancing your blood sugar levels.
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): HIIT is an effective, time-efficient workout for improving insulin sensitivity and controlling blood sugar levels.
Flexibility and Balance Exercises: Doing exercises like yoga and Pilates can lead to flexibility, balance, and mental well-being.
Conclusion: Foods to Avoid While Taking Metformin
Managing type 2 diabetes effectively requires not only taking medications like Metformin but also making mindful decisions about the foods you consume. Certain foods can interfere with the action of Metformin, impact blood sugar levels, or increase the risk of side effects. By avoiding high-sugar foods, refined carbohydrates, fried and processed foods, high-fat dairy products, and alcohol, you can support your treatment plan and improve overall health.
Also Read: 6 Foods That Make You Taste Sweeter: Natural Ways to Enhance Flavor