7 Foods to Steer Clear of on Metformin

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The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 830 million people worldwide live with diabetes. The good news is, there are medications given to treat diabetes and help you manage your blood sugar levels.

Metformin is a prescription medicine approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for managing type 2 diabetes. This medicine improves hemoglobin and lowers glucose levels with time. For metformin to be effective, you need to adhere to a healthy diet.

In this article, we discover seven foods to avoid while taking metformin for effective treatment.

1. Drinks and Foods With Added Sugars

One of the dietary restrictions for metformin is a diet full of added sugars. High-sugar drinks and foods tend to increase your levels of blood sugar and counteract the effectiveness of metformin.

Certain carbohydrates are indicated with ‘Added Sugars’ on their nutrition facts label. This will help you find out the kind of foods with unnecessary sugars and avoid taking them.

Some of the drinks and foods with extra sugars include the following:

• Candy
• Sweetened tea beverages and coffee
• Breakfast bars and cereals, including cold cereals and flavored oatmeal
• Desserts such as pies, frozen treats, cakes, cookies, and pastries
• Flavored or sweetened dairy products, including yoghurt
• Sweetened fruit drinks, sports drinks, and soft drinks

Savory foods like pasta sauce and salad dressing contain added sugars; ensure you check the labels. Additionally, avoid artificial sweeteners as they may affect the benefits of metformin.

2. Foods Rich in Saturated Fats

Among the foods affecting metformin are those with excessive saturated fats. These tend to reduce insulin sensitivity, which means your body may fail to respond as it should to insulin.

Moreover, foods with high amounts of fat prevent the body from using and absorbing metformin effectively. If you frequently consume high-fat foods, your doctor may have to prescribe a higher dose of metformin to manage your blood sugar levels.

Below are examples of foods containing saturated fats:

• Tropical oils such as palm kernel oil
• Fatty pieces of meat
• Coconut
• Full-fat dairy products, like cream, cheese, and butter
• Pre-packaged baked foods
• Processed snacks
• Fried foods

On the Nutrition List label, you’ll see how much saturated fat is in these foods. Use this information to make informed decisions about foods to eat with metformin.

3. Foods With a High Glycemic Index

Glycemic index is a measure of how fast sugars break down in the body and move to the bloodstream. Compared to low glycemic foods, those with a high glycemic index tend to be broken down faster and enter the bloodstream quickly. Vegetables and fruits containing high glycemic indices may cause a spike in blood sugar levels.

Some high-glycemic foods affecting metformin include the following:

• Starchy vegetables like white potatoes
• Food products containing refined grains
• White rice and bread
• Corn
• Instant oatmeal
• Low-fiber, high-sugar meals like grapes and watermelon

4. Alcohol

The metabolism of both metformin and alcohol takes place in the liver. For this reason, drinking too much alcohol while taking metformin can stress your liver. This, therefore, reduces the effectiveness of metformin and, in turn, causes hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels.

Excessive alcohol consumption while on metformin can also lead to lactic acidosis. This is a health condition where lactic acid accumulates in the bloodstream. It causes symptoms such as stomach pain, muscle pain, and fatigue.

If you have type 2 diabetes, it’s advisable to stay away from alcohol. Aim at drinking a maximum of one or two alcoholic drinks per day, especially if taking metformin.

5. High-Sodium Foods

People with type 2 diabetes are likely to have high blood pressure or hypertension. Taking foods with too much sodium increases your risk of getting high blood pressure. Sticking to metformin dietary guidelines and avoiding a high-sodium diet is likely to lower your risk of high blood pressure.

The American Heart Association recommends that you eat at most 2,300mg of sodium in a day. You should aim for an optimal goal of less than 1500mg per day. Limiting the amount of sodium in your diet plays an important role in your overall health.

Sodium is not just found in salt, but also in other foods such as:

• Processed snacks
• Some canned vegetables and fruits, like chili and ravioli
• Processed poultry, fish, or meat, including sausages, bacon, ham, caviar, sardines, and frankfurters
• Frozen dinners and foods like pizza and burritos
• Canned beans
• Salted nuts

6. Foods With Too Much Fiber

High-fiber foods help in the management of diabetes as they slow down the digestion and the process of glucose entering the bloodstream. However, consuming foods with too much fiber while taking metformin can affect the absorption of the medication by your body.

Avoid taking high-fiber foods such as oatmeal, avocados, chia seeds, beans, berries, and chickpeas. Further, don’t consume any fiber supplements at the same time as metformin for diabetes. If you have to take these supplements, consider waiting a few hours before taking your diabetes medication.

Consult with your healthcare provider before starting on fiber supplements, especially if you have type 2 diabetes that’s being treated using metformin.

7. Processed Foods

Most processed foods contain high levels of refined carbohydrates. These carbs are broken down quickly, causing glucose levels and insulin to rise. This can lead to insulin resistance, an occurrence where insulin fails to break down glucose efficiently, thus affecting glucose control.

Examples of processed foods containing refined carbohydrates include the following:

• Sugary cereals
• Processed snacks and treats
• White rice, pasta, and bread

To improve the benefits of metformin, go for home-cooked, unprocessed, and whole meals most of the time. You can consult an online doctor at Kiwi to help you come up with a personalized nutrition plan that suits your health condition. This diet should support your body’s nutritional needs while also increasing the efficiency of metformin.

Learn Foods to Avoid While Taking Metformin at Kiwi International Online Pharmacy

Metformin works effectively in treating type 2 diabetes. Some of the foods to avoid while taking metformin include alcohol, high-sodium foods, refined sugars, and processed foods. It’s crucial to stick to metformin dietary guidelines to manage diabetes better.

At Kiwi, we provide popular medicines, including metformin, at competitive pharmacy prices. All our drugs are shipped from licensed doctors and pharmacists and delivered to your location in express time.

Contact us today to order medicine or get expert advice on any medical topic.