6 Foods to Avoid While Taking Metformin.

Metformin 500mg tablet is the drug of choice for type 2 diabetes. Around 462 million individuals worldwide have Type 2 diabetes, with 150 million taking metformin to help manage it. Metformin tablets reduce the amount of glucose your body absorbs from food. It also boosts your body's reaction to insulin.

On the other hand, studies show that metformin slows aging and reduces the risk of aging-related disorders in non-diabetic persons. In this blog, we will discuss the foods to avoid while taking metformin.

6 Foods to avoid while taking metformin

Some drugs show intense drug-food interactions, due to which some foods not to eat while taking metformin. 

1 Alcohol - 

Metformin with alcohol can be combined in moderation. However, doctors advise against it if you have a history of alcohol misuse or binge drinking. Alcohol is one of the foods to avoid while taking metformin.There are two reasons for this.

• There is a rare but potentially fatal risk of lactic acidosis while taking metformin. Research shows a lactic acid build-up in the liver can lead to catastrophic kidney failure and harm the lungs and heart. 
• Metformin can cause digestive distress in some people. Because alcohol can cause gastrointestinal distress in certain people, combining the two could have serious digestive consequences.

Also, Read Effects Of Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy.

2 Fiber-Rich Foods -

Fiber is commonly thought to be beneficial, except when on metformin. According to the University of Michigan, high-fiber diets may make the drug's task more difficult. Researchers believe that eating more than 30 grams of fiber per day may diminish metformin levels in the body because fiber binds to the medicine and reduces its efficacy. As a result, high-fiber meals such as oatmeal, chickpeas, avocado, berries, peas, beans, and chia seeds may be best avoided. Fiber-Rich foods is one of the foods to avoid while taking metformin.

3 Simple and Refined Carbohydrates -

It is well known that refined carbs like white bread, rice, bagels, and pasta spike your blood sugar in minutes. Researchers revealed that simple carbs raise blood sugar levels and increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Instead, you can choose whole grains that digest slowly and include more vitamins and minerals. You can eat whole-wheat, whole-grain pasta, bread, quinoa, brown rice, millet, and others. They include more nutrients and help to keep blood sugar levels stable. Simple and refined carbohydrates is one of the foods to avoid while taking metformin.

4 Trans Fats -

Healthy fats like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are fine. You should include them in your diet if you're taking metformin. When taking metformin, you should avoid foods high in trans and saturated fats. Foods including butter, cheese, and high-fat meats contain saturated fat, so you should avoid them while taking metformin. Trans Fats is one of the foods to avoid while taking metformin.

5 Grapefruit -

Many medicines interact with grapefruit. Grapefruit, whole or juiced, should not be combined with statins, blood pressure drugs, antihistamines, anti-anxiety medications, or anti-diabetic drugs. There are various medications that you should not consume with grapefruit. This is because some grapefruit chemicals interact with enzymes in our liver and intestines that aid in the breakdown of medications.

When the enzymes fail, the medication enters your system in its most potent form, increasing the likelihood of an overdose. A study was conducted on non-diabetic rats to check grapefruit's effect on metformin. In the study, rats were administered metformin alone or in combination with grapefruit, and those given the combination had lactic acid build-up in their liver. Grapefruit is one of the foods to avoid while taking metformin.

6 Sodium -

You should avoid consuming too much sodium when taking metformin. Limit your salt/sodium consumption to less than 2.3 g per day. Sodium is one of the foods to avoid while taking metformin.

Also, Read 19 Best Blood Purifier Food to add to your diet - 2022

What is the best way to take metformin?

Metformin, according to doctors, should always be taken with food. Whether you're fed or fasted, the diabetic liver continues to produce glucose. Taking metformin several hours after eating is pointless because there's no glucose in the liver. The point of the faulty "off-switch" is that metformin comes in to fix that switch and prevents the liver from producing glucose after you've just eaten. The drug must be present at the right place at the right time when the glucose concentrations are highest so that the liver and muscles can suck the glucose in and store it at the proper moment.

Drugs to avoid while on metformin

Certain drugs can increase the chance of getting lactic acidosis while taking metformin. If you are using any of the following medications, you should tell your doctor:

• Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, such as acetazolamide
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• Blood pressure medication, such as amlodipine 
• Anticonvulsants, such as topiramate and zonisamide 
• Oral contraceptives
• Antipsychotic drugs, such as chlorpromazine
• Alcohol

Certain medications can reduce metformin clearance in your body. Notify your doctor if you've been prescribed any of the following medications in addition to metformin:

• Ranolazine 
• Dolutegravir 
• Cimetidine 

What could be the common side effects of metformin?

Following are the common side effects of metformin:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach ache
• Appetite Loss
• Metallic taste in the mouth

Also, Read What to eat when you have diarrhea?

Conclusion

According to the CDC, 90 to 95% of the over 30 million diabetic patients have Type 2 diabetes. Metformin is a treatment option for type 2 diabetes as it reduces the amount of glucose from ingested food. We hope we have communicated to you what foods to avoid while taking metformin. It would help if you avoided grapefruit, excess sodium, fats, alcohol, fibers, and simple and refined carbohydrates.