Foods to Avoid While Taking Jardiance

If you’re taking Jardiance for diabetes, heart, or kidney health, you may be wondering whether certain foods and drinks could affect your medication. While there’s no special ‘Jardiance diet,’ making thoughtful choices can help reduce side effects like dehydration and support better blood sugar control.

How Jardiance works

Jardiance helps lower blood sugar by removing excess glucose through your urine. Side effects can include:

• Dehydration
• Urinary tract infections
• Increased urination
• Yeast infections
• Rarely, diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening condition

This means foods and beverages that rapidly spike your blood sugar, dehydrate your body or strain your kidneys may negatively interact with Jardiance. 

Certain foods may not directly interact with Jardiance, but they can make it harder for your medication to do its job. Here are the top categories to be mindful of.

1. Sugary food and drinks

Sugary foods and drinks elevate your blood glucose and can make it more challenging for Jardiance to keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range. Whether or not you take Jardiance, limiting your sugar intake is essential for managing type 2 diabetes. 

2. Alcohol

Drinking alcohol while taking Jardiance can increase your risk of dehydration and diabetic ketoacidosis. Alcohol can also affect your blood sugar levels. Because of these risk factors, it’s best to limit or avoid alcohol if you have type 2 diabetes or take Jardiance. 

3. Fruit and starchy vegetables

Choose lower-sugar fruits like berries over bananas or mangos and non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, leafy greens and peppers instead of potatoes or corn.

What can I eat on Jardiance?

The following foods can help support blood sugar balance and diabetes management:

• Lean proteins, like lean beef and pork, fish, turkey, chicken, tofu and beans
• Nuts and seeds 
• Non-starchy vegetables and fruit, like asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, leafy greens, cucumber, peppers, berries and tomatoes
• Dairy products, like cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, cheese and milk 

Since Jardiance makes you urinate more, staying hydrated is especially important. Water, herbal teas and broth-based soups are good options.

Jardiance food FAQs

Can I eat grapefruit while taking Jardiance?

There’s currently no evidence that grapefruit negatively interacts with Jardiance, though it can interact with other medications. 

Can you eat bananas with Jardiance?

Bananas can be high in sugar, so it’s best to limit or avoid them if you have type 2 diabetes, opting for berries instead to get your fruit fix.  

Can you drink coffee with Jardiance?

Caffeinated drinks like coffee can increase your risk of dehydration, so it’s best to consume them in moderation and stay hydrated throughout the day. 

Can you drink alcohol while taking Jardiance?

Alcohol can increase your risk of dehydration and ketoacidosis while taking Jardiance and there’s no safe level of alcohol consumption, so it’s best to limit or avoid alcoholic beverages. 

Can you eat sugar on Jardiance?

Sugary foods and drinks can increase your blood glucose, meaning Jardiance must work harder to help your body maintain healthy blood sugar levels. 

Can you eat keto while taking Jardiance?

Many Virta members take Jardinance while on a well-formulated ketogenic diet. Talk to your Virta coach or healthcare provider to determine how to safely 

The Takeaway

While there aren’t strict food restrictions with Jardiance, making thoughtful choices about sugar, alcohol, hydration and balanced meals can help you feel your best and keep your blood sugar steady. Your healthcare provider or a dietitian can help tailor recommendations to your personal health needs.

If you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and want to live a healthier lifestyle, Virta Health may be able to help. By making healthy lifestyle changes in a medical setting with supportive resources like 1:1 virtual coaching, you can regain control of your health and feel like yourself again. See if you’re eligible for Virta Health here.