Foods to Avoid with Trulicity – Know the Details

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Many medications help in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. You may have seen the commercials of some latest drugs and wondered how they could benefit your condition. Trulicity is the type 2 diabetes medication that FDA approved in 2014.

Trulicity is among the most effective type 2 diabetes medication. It’s a non-insulin injection that comes in the form of a pen. The pen has the medicine and injects it according to the recommended dosage. Like other diabetes medications, there are some foods to avoid with trulicity.

You must be thinking of the foods to avoid with trulicity. Continue reading to learn about the foods you should or shouldn’t eat with trulicity. But let’s start with some basic information on trulicity.

What is Trulicity?

Trulicity is a brand name for the medicine dulaglutide. Dulaglutide is a part of a class of medicine called GLP-1 receptor agonists. It is beneficial for type 2 diabetes patients. Trulicity isn’t for type 1 diabetes patients.

This medicine is a non-insulin injection in the form of a pen with the medication inside it. The trulicity standard dosage ranges from 0.75 milligrams to 4.5 milligrams per week. When healthcare providers prescribe this medicine, they start with the lowest dose and increase it with time.

Don’t start this medicine on your own.

How Does Trulicity Work?

GLP-1 receptors have the role of increasing insulin secretion. It helps in lowering blood glucose levels. If you have type 2 diabetes, your body isn’t producing the required insulin or you are insulin resistant. Both of the condition mentioned above increases your blood sugar levels.

Trulicity medicine activates the GLP-1 receptors that boost insulin secretion. It is a hormone that increases the blood glucose level. At the same time, the GLP-1 receptor activates the receptor that controls the blood glucose level.

The trulicity also benefits people who struggle to lose weight. It increases the fullness feeling by slowly emptying the stomach by this your hunger will be reduced. Therefore trulicity weight loss can help in the management of diabetes.

List of Foods to Avoid with Trulicity

There aren’t any specific drinks or foods that negatively impact the trulicity. However, since trulicity improves the blood sugar level, it is best to follow a diet that benefits the trulicity role in the body.

Though you can fit maximum foods in a healthy diet, try limiting the one that increases the blood sugar level.

1. Alcohol

Alcohol use harms your blood sugar levels. Alcohol can result in both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia it depends on how often or how much you drink. As you know, alcohol can disturb blood sugar levels, so avoid drinking it, especially if it’s difficult to control your blood sugar levels.

People who have well-controlled diabetes can drink alcohol but in a moderate amount. It’s best to limit the intake of alcohol to less than five drinks a week. One drink is measured as 5oz of wine, 1.5 distilled spirits, and 12oz of beer.

2. Added sugars

Added sugars are the sugars and syrups that we add while processing food. Sugar that is naturally found in vegetables and fruits is not added sugar. There are many names for added sugar:

Brown sugar

Dextrose
Cane juice
Corn trump

High fructose corn syrup
Glucose
Fruit nectars

Lactose
Honey
Sucrose

Malt syrup
Molasses
Maltose

Maple trump

Adding too much sugar will decrease the nutritional value of your diet and will also increase blood sugar levels. You unconsciously add them to your diet as peanut butter, crackers, tomato sauce, and many other daily use things.

To see if there is added sugar, check the nutrition facts label to look for the carbs and added sugars. Also, read the ingredients and know that the food is listed in descending order with respect to the weight. So if the ingredients list and label have sugar, oil, and peanuts then the product will have a lot of sugar in it.

3. Refrained grains

Grains are food made from cornmeal, oats, rice, barley, cereal grains, and wheat. It also includes pasta, bread, tortillas, rice, grits, breakfast cereal, and oatmeal. Refrained grains are the ones that have been milled to remove the bran and germs.

It improves the shelf life of the grains and makes them fine-textured. However, it also removes the health benefits like iron, fiber, and vitamin B. The refrained grains include:

White flour

White bread
Corn grits
White rice

Consult your dietitian or doctor about the number of grains to include in the meal. Being consistent will benefit the blood sugar to stay more level throughout the day.

4. Sugary drinks

Sugary drinks are the main culprit behind the increase in sugar intake in the western diet. Drinks like sweetened teas, energy drinks, soda, sugary coffee, and many others are rich in sugar.

For example, a 12-ounce cola can have around 39 grams of added sugar. It’s well beyond the maximum 24-32 grams of daily consumption. The daily intake of these sugary drinks can affect your blood sugar levels. Besides, poorly controlled diabetes can lead to many severe complications like heart disease, eye diseases, diabetic retinopathy, and still many more.

Foods to Eat with Trulicity

Here are some foods that experts recommend taking with trulicity:

1. Nuts

Nuts are made up of healthy fiber, protein, and unsaturated fats. Healthy fat improves heart health, which is vital for a diabetic person. Eating a diet rich in healthy fats instead of saturated fats can reduce the risk of heart disease by promoting a healthy cholesterol level.

Protein and fat don’t affect the blood sugar level, so they can be beneficial to include in the diet. To keep your blood sugar levels stable, include protein in your meals. Besides; the intake of carbohydrates with protein and fat will only let your blood sugar level rise slowly.

Eating a handful of nuts and some fresh fruits together will not result in an instant blood glucose level rise compared to when you are just eating your fruits.

2. Protein-rich foods

Foods like eggs, cheese, fish, and unsweetened yogurt are rich in protein and don’t significantly affect the blood glucose level. According to the diabetic plate method, a quarter of your plate must have protein meals; the same goes for the trulicity diet.

Protein also makes you feel fuller for more extended periods. That means when you are full for longer periods, you will not crave snacks, and it also prevents overeating.

3. Non-starchy vegetables

Low-starchy vegetables are the ones that have low carbs. Most vegetables are non-starchy; these vegetables are rich in minerals, fiber, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. These vegetables make you feel full without affecting your blood glucose levels.

Starchy vegetables are also not bad for health, but if you have diabetes, you should treat them as grains as they affect blood sugar levels. Some examples of starchy vegetables include green peas, winter squash, corn, and potatoes.

Here are some of the non-starchy vegetables you must include in your trulicity diet. Besides, there are several tasty and healthy options for you.

Asparagus
Okra

Artichoke
Mushrooms
Beans (Italian, wax, green)

Leeks
Turnips
Beets

Tomatoes
Brussels sprouts
Sugar snap peas

Broccoli
Swiss chard
Cabbage

Squash
Carrots
Sprouts

Cauliflower
Salad greens (watercress, chicory, lettuce, radicchio, romaine, spinach)
Eggplant

Onions
Green leafy vegetables
Rutabaga

Jicama
Pepper
Kohlrabi

Radishes

4. Whole grains

Grains are carbohydrates that convert into blood sugar and metabolize nutrients. However, whole grains are considered healthy, and carbs are better than refined grains.

Whole grains are also rich in fiber, a carbohydrate type that makes you feel full for extended periods. Some examples of whole grains include brown rice, barley, whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, etc. They don’t affect blood sugar and make you feel full with a small portion.

What’s the Best Time to Take Trulicity?

Try maintaining the same schedule every week. Take trulicity on the same day every week as the time of the trulicity doesn’t matter. If you want to adjust the day of the trulicity, wait for at least three days after your last dose.

In case you didn’t take the trulicity on the scheduled day and there are still three days left for the next dose then take the missing dose. After taking the dose, continue with the past schedule. But if there are less than three days, skip the dose and continue with the schedule.

Other Safety Concerns

The most common side effect of the trulicity includes:

Decrease in appetite
Fatigue
Nausea

Vomiting
Indigestion
Abdominal pain

Diarrhea

Rare Side Effects

There are some rare side effects of taking the trulicity. It includes the risk of developing thyroid cancer. If you or your family has medullary thyroid carcinoma (MCT), then avoid taking trulicity. You should also avoid trulicity if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2.

Managing Trulicity Side Effects

Here are a few practical guidelines that can help manage trulicity side effects. If you are experiencing digestive discomfort while taking trulicity, then some simple changes in your diet can help relieve the side effects. Here are a few recommendations from the experts:

Eat foods that are bland and light.
Avoid fatty foods that are high in sugar content. These are the most rigid food to digest by the body and cause nausea while taking trulicity.
Eat slowly and have a small portion of the meal.

Drink ice-cold and clear drinks like unsweetened tea and water.

Talk to your doctor if any of the above side effects are bothering you and isn’t going away on their own. Your doctor will help prevent the issue and provide supportive care. If you have severe side effects like shortness of breath or anaphylaxis, seek immediate help from a professional.

Conclusion

The person who has severe stomach issues should avoid taking trulicity. Some serious side effects of trulicity include kidney problems, heart attack, severe allergic reactions, and pancreatitis.

To minimize the side effects of trulicity, take the exact amount per your doctor’s prescription. It’s also recommended to focus on the diet and have refined sugar, low carbs, healthy fats, and high protein. It’s also recommended to make small meal plans with low but frequent meals instead of large ones.

Keep control of your blood sugar level, and let your doctor know if you see frequent changes in the levels. The frequent changes can be a sign of worsening side effects.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Foods to avoid with trulicity?

Sugars snacks like candies, cakes, and cookies, high sugary drinks like sweet tea, soda pop, and fruit drinks. In addition, high-fat content like ice cream, fast food, milkshakes, white rice, white bread, potatoes, and other refined carbs should be avoided.

What time of the day is ideal for trulicity?

Trulicity can be taken at any time of the day, with or without food. But try to fix a day to take it on the same day every week. Some side effects of trulicity include diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain. If you ever feel these symptoms contact the doctor immediately.

When should you avoid trulicity?

You should avoid trulicity in a few cases; for example, if you have a family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes 2. Contact your doctor if you have any of the above symptoms or feel difficulty swallowing.

Does trulicity give you energy?

Trulicity can result in fatigue, low energy, and decreased appetite.

References:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26371721/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4119845/

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-167025/trulicity-subcutaneous/details/list-interaction-food
https://www.singlecare.com/blog/foods-to-avoid-with-trulicity/
https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/trulicity

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326844
https://www.drugs.com/food-interactions/dulaglutide,trulicity.html