What foods to avoid with Trulicity

Trulicity is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. While there are no specific foods that must be avoided with Trulicity, it is recommended to avoid certain foods and maintain a healthy diet to prevent or reduce unwanted side effects with this medication.

What is Trulicity?

Trulicity is the brand name for the prescription medication dulaglutide, manufactured by Lilly. Trulicity is in a class of medications that is known as glucagon-like peptide-1 GLP-1 receptor agonists. GLP-1 is a hormone that helps regulate blood glucose levels by increasing insulin production and decreasing glucagon secretion. Similar to Ozempic, Trulicity is used to help improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is intended for the following uses in adults with type 2 diabetes:

• to lower blood sugar levels
• to reduce the risk of certain cardiovascular problems – people can use Trulicity to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack and to lower the risk of death caused by a cardiovascular condition.

Trulicity is not insulin or a weight-loss drug. It is also not used for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.

Trulicity is injected under the skin (subcutaneous) once a week in the thigh, abdomen, or upper arm, and should be used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Do not inject into areas where the skin is tender, bruised, red, hard, thickened, or has scars or stretch marks. Do not use the same injection site twice in a row.

If you miss a dose of Trulicity, inject the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and inject your next dose at your regular injection time.

How does Trulicity work?

Trulicity works by mimicking the effects of GLP-1, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels and tells your pancreas to release more of your own insulin. By increasing insulin production and decreasing glucagon secretion, Trulicity helps to keep blood sugar levels within a normal range.

Although Trulicity is not a weight-loss medication like Saxenda and Wegovy, people who take Trulicity may lose weight because of how the drug works in the body.

In a clinical study, people who had taken Trulicity for 26 weeks ended up losing 3 to 5 pounds. In comparison, people who had taken another diabetes medication called metformin only lost around 5 pounds. If you are taking Trulicity with any other diabetes medications, the amount of weight that you may lose could vary by the specific medications you are taking.

What are the side effects of Trulicity?

The most common side effects of Trulicity are:

• nausea
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• decreased appetite
• abdominal pain
• indigestion
• fatigue

For people who have kidney problems – diarrhea, nausea,  and vomiting may cause dehydration (loss of fluids), which may cause kidney problems to worsen.

If you are experiencing nausea, speak with your doctor. You can also consider the following tips which you may find helpful:

• eat smaller meals and try to split your daily meals into 4 or smaller meals
• avoid fat or fatty foods
• stop to eat when you feel full
• try to eat bland foods like rice, crackers, or toast

Serious side effects of Trulicity may include:

• inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis)
• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• severe stomach problems
• changes in vision

This is not a full list of all of the possible side effects of Trulicity. Get medical advice from your healthcare professional about how to recognize the side effects and what you can do to prevent or reduce them.

What is dumping syndrome?

Dumping syndrome is caused by rapid gastric emptying. Rapid gastric emptying is when food moves from your stomach into your duodenum too quickly. This causes symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, light-headedness, or tiredness after eating or drinking.

What foods should I avoid with Trulicity?

While there are no foods that are known to interact with Trulicity which need to be avoided, some foods may make the side effects of Trulicity worse. If you experience any bothersome side effects after eating, try avoiding that food to see if your symptoms improve.

In general, it is recommended to eat a healthy diet when taking Trulicity or any other medication for diabetes. A healthy diet includes foods from all food groups and limits foods high in sugar, fat, and calories. Speak to your healthcare provider about what types of foods are best for you.

It is recommended to avoid foods and drinks that are high-fat, sugary, and calorie-dense, for example:

• alcohol
• fast food
• junk food
• processed food
• soda
• alcohol
• cake
• cookies
• pastries
• ice cream
• chips
• doughnuts
• ‘healthy’ snacks like granola bars or fruit snacks that are actually high in sugar

You should also avoid drinking alcohol while taking Trulicity, as alcohol may cause both hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) for those with diabetes, depending on the amount consumed. Most people with diabetes may enjoy a moderate amount of alcohol without adverse effects.

Can I drink caffeine with Trulicity?

Caffeine is safe to drink when using Trulicity, as there is no direct interaction between caffeine and Trulicity.

What happens if you eat too much on Trulicity?

Trulicity slows gastric emptying. If you have eaten too much while using Trulicity you will experience symptoms such as bloating, nausea, vomiting, and even stomach cramps.

What are the best foods to eat with Trulicity?

While there are no specific foods that you must eat with Trulicity, it is recommended to eat foods that are high in fiber and low in sugar, fat, and calories.

You should eat healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other diabetes superfoods that are generally rich in fiber, antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. In addition to the other health benefits, fiber is known for helping to lower your blood sugar levels and reducing the risk of heart disease.

Some examples of high-fiber food choices include:

• green leafy vegetables – for example, spinach and collard greens, which are loaded with vitamins A, C, E, and K, calcium, potassium, and iron
• sweet potatoes – filled with vitamin A and fiber, these root vegetables are also concentrated with vitamin C and potassium
• tomatoes – low in carbohydrates (carbs), rich in vitamin C and E, and potassium
• nuts – for example, walnuts and flax seeds, which are both excellent sources of healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids that lower blood pressure and inflammation
• salmon – people with diabetes are recommended by the American Diabetes Association to eat fish, primarily fatty fish, twice per week
• low-fat dairy products – like milk and yogurt

Your healthcare professional or nutritionist can help you set up a meal plan that works best for you.

Who can take Trulicity?

Trulicity is for people with type 2 diabetes who are not able to control their blood sugar levels with diet and exercise alone. Trulicity should not be used to treat type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. Do not take Trulicity if you have a history of severe allergic reactions to dulaglutide.

Before taking Trulicity, tell your healthcare professional about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have kidney problems
• have liver problems
• are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant as it is unknown if Trulicity can harm your unborn baby
• are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed as it is unknown if Trulicity can pass into your breast milk

Tell your healthcare professional about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, herbal supplements and vitamins. Taking Trulicity with other diabetes medicines may affect how well Trulicity or the other diabetes medicines work.

Can I take Trulicity with metformin and other medications?

Trulicity (dulaglutide) and metformin are safe to take together and are often prescribed to be used together for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and weight management.

Trulicity may interact with other medications, herbs, or vitamins you are taking. Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider about any possible drug interactions with any of the medications, herbs, and supplements you are taking, including:

• insulin
• oral diabetes medications
• blood pressure medications
• heartburn medications
• steroids
• birth control pills or patch