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Drug Info

Foods to avoid with Trulicity

There aren’t any specific foods to avoid with Trulicity, but you should follow a diabetes diet
Jesse P. Houghton, MD, FACG
By | Updated on Aug. 11, 2024
Insulin pen: Foods to avoid with Trulicity

Key takeaways

  • Trulicity (dulaglutide) controls high blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes by increasing insulin secretion, decreasing glucagon secretion, and delaying stomach emptying.

  • You don’t have to avoid specific foods with Trulicity, but consuming a diet high in protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates that’s low in refined sugars and saturated fats is recommended.

  • Individuals with Type 2 diabetes should avoid sugary snacks, high-sugar drinks, refined carbohydrates, and high-fat foods to manage their condition effectively.

  • While there are no specific food interactions with Trulicity, use caution with alcohol, grapefruit, and herbal supplements, which may affect blood glucose levels or the drug’s effectiveness.

In this article:

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a brand-name once-weekly subcutaneous injection that is approved by the FDA for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Many medications and supplements are affected by the foods we eat. In this article, we’ll explore how diet affects people with Type 2 diabetes who also take Trulicity.

RELATED: What is Trulicity? | Type 2 diabetes treatments

Trulicity works to control high blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes in several ways. It activates glucagon-like peptide 1 receptors, and so is also referred to as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. By activating this receptor, it has effects on increasing insulin secretion, decreasing glucagon secretion, and delaying stomach emptying. 

Foods to avoid with Trulicity

There is no data showing that specific foods interact with Trulicity. However, there are types of food that should be avoided in Type 2 diabetes, which Trulicity is designed to treat. Let’s discuss some of these foods below.

1. Sugary snacks such as cakes, cookies, candy

Sugary snacks such as candies and cakes seem to be all around us, from peeking out at us at every turn in the grocery store to appearing in the break room at work. Unfortunately, these treats are highly processed and high in refined carbohydrates and sugar, and as a result, tend to cause spikes in blood sugar. This will make it more difficult to control your diabetes with dulaglutide. As an alternative, try trail mixes with nuts and berries, yogurt, and fruits such as apples and bananas.

2. High-sugar drinks such as soda pop, fruit drinks, sweet tea

In general, Americans drink way too many sugar-laden drinks, such as soda pop, sweet tea, and fruit juice drinks. These products contain some of the highest amounts of sugar of any food. Even seemingly healthy fruit juices, such as orange juice and grapefruit juice, are usually loaded with sugar. They are a surefire way to not be able to get your blood sugars under control. They also have been shown to cause cavities, poor concentration, and even increased cancer risk. Water is the best alternative, and if you tend to have a sweet tooth, you can add one of the many flavor enhancers out there or try flavored water right off the shelf at the grocery store.

3. Refined carbohydrates like white bread, potatoes, and white rice.

Unlike whole grains, refined carbs, such as white rice and potatoes, lack the nutrients that your body benefits from. They are also much more likely to cause spikes in your blood sugars. As a healthier option, eat low-carb foods such as brown rice or quinoa, sweet potatoes, and whole-grain bread and cereals.

4. High-fat content foods such as fast food, ice cream, and milkshakes.

Fast foods, ice cream, and related products, such as milkshakes, have loads of saturated fats (and usually lots of sugar as well). These high-fat meals tend to sit in your stomach, delaying digestion. When combined with GLP-1 agonists such as Trulicity, you are much more likely to have symptoms of slow stomach emptying, such as bloating, nausea, vomiting, feeling full quickly, and even stomach cramping. 

5. Alcoholic drinks such as cocktails, wine, and beer.

Alcohol-containing drinks have been shown to have negative health consequences for several reasons. They are also not recommended in patients with diabetes who also take Trulicity. Alcoholic drinks are often high in calories and sugar, especially those fruity and sugary cocktails. Alcohol can also irritate the lining of the stomach, which may amplify the GI side effects of Trulicity.

Herbs and supplements to avoid with Trulicity

There is not a lot of data concerning potential interactions between Trulicity and herbal supplements. Some herbal supplements may result in additive effects of Trulicity.

Regular use of aloe vera, ginseng, sesame oil, St John’s wort, ginkgo, garlic, and turmeric may lower blood glucose levels in some patients, which may lead to a reduction in your dosage requirement of dulaglutide. 

Ma huang may interfere with blood glucose control and reduce the effectiveness of dulaglutide and other diabetes medications, such as Victoza or metformin. You may need to adjust your dose of Trulicity if you are also taking ma huang.

It’s a good idea to let your healthcare provider know if you are taking herbal medicines while taking any prescription medications, as drug interactions may occur. 

What should you eat while taking Trulicity?

When you have diabetes, the ADA (American Diabetes Association) recommends that you consume about 15% to 20% of calories from protein, and 20% to 35% of calories from fat (but bad saturated fats should be less than 10% of total calories), and a little more than 50% from carbohydrates. 

Try to eat more fruits such as berries, bananas, and apples and vegetables such as broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, and kale. Instead of refined carbohydrates such as white rice and white bread, choose complex carbohydrates such as brown rice and wheat or whole-grain bread. Instead of regular potatoes, choose sweet potatoes. Yogurt and oatmeal are also great choices. 

Eat small, frequent meals as opposed to large meals. Small, frequent meals can help with nausea, bloating, and feelings of overeating. They also help to level out blood sugar levels.

RELATED: What’s the best diet for diabetes?

Gastrointestinal side effects of Trulicity

The most common side effects of Trulicity include injection site reactions, nausea, indigestion, constipation or diarrhea, abdominal pain, and headache. Less common but potentially serious side effects of Trulicity include pancreatitis, kidney problems, severe allergic reactions, and heart attack. 

It’s no surprise that Trulicity can cause nausea since one of the ways that it works is by slowing down the emptying of the stomach. When the stomach empties slowly, as it does in a condition called gastroparesis, the main symptoms are nausea, vomiting, bloating, and feeling full early. Frequent foul-smelling burping can also be a sign of this. Since gastroparesis is common in diabetics, side effects of Trulicity can be quite severe in some people. Trulicity is not recommended for use in people with severe stomach problems.

Since slow stomach emptying can cause one to feel full, this can also cause a decreased appetite and weight loss. Weight loss is sometimes viewed as a positive side effect, as lowered weight gain usually results in better control of blood glucose levels.

To minimize the side effects of Trulicity, focus on the diet choices discussed above (low carbohydrates, low refined sugars and sweets, high protein, and healthy fats). Creating a meal plan with small, frequent meals instead of three large meals is recommended. 

Keep a close eye on your blood sugars as well, and be sure to let your healthcare provider know if the levels are frequently low or high. This will make side effects worse. 

RELATED: Can hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) occur without diabetes?

It should also be mentioned that anyone with a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or a family history of thyroid cancer should not take Trulicity. It should also not be taken in patients with a history of MEN (multiple endocrine neoplasia) type II. In addition, dulaglutide is not for use in patients with Type 1 diabetes.