Foods to Avoid When Taking Jardiance: Diabetes Medication Diet Tips

Jardiance (empagliflozin) has become one of the most prescribed diabetes medications in the United States, with additional FDA approvals for heart failure and cardiovascular risk reduction. While there is no official list of banned foods, understanding the foods to avoid when taking Jardiance can help you support the drug’s effect, steady your blood sugar, and reduce uncomfortable side effects. The way Jardiance works creates specific dietary considerations that differ from other diabetes medications. This article is general education, not medical advice — your food plan, and any change to how you take your medicine, should be set with your prescriber and, ideally, a registered dietitian.

How Jardiance Works and Why Diet Matters

Jardiance belongs to the SGLT2 inhibitor class. It blocks the sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 protein in your kidneys, which normally reabsorbs glucose from urine back into the bloodstream. By blocking that transporter, Jardiance causes excess glucose to be excreted in the urine, lowering blood sugar. According to the National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus, empagliflozin “lowers blood sugar by causing the kidneys to get rid of more glucose in the urine,” and the FDA prescribing information notes the class removes a substantial amount of glucose (on the order of tens of grams) through the urine each day.

This mechanism means Jardiance works in the background continuously, but your dietary choices still directly influence your blood sugar. Foods that cause rapid glucose spikes make the drug work harder, and it has limits. Diet and medication work as a team, not as substitutes — MedlinePlus advises taking empagliflozin alongside “a healthful diet” and regular exercise as recommended by your provider.

High-Sugar and Refined Carbohydrate Foods

While Jardiance removes some glucose through the urine, flooding your system with excess sugar and refined carbohydrates can outpace the medication’s capacity. Foods that cause rapid blood sugar spikes are worth limiting or approaching carefully.

• Sugary beverages: Regular soda, fruit juice, sweet tea, energy drinks, and sweetened coffee drinks can carry 30–60 grams of sugar per serving and cause rapid glucose spikes.
• White bread, white rice, and regular pasta: These refined grains digest quickly and convert to glucose fast. Whole-grain alternatives have a gentler glycemic impact.
• Candy, pastries, and baked goods: High in both sugar and refined flour, these offer little nutrition and a large blood-sugar hit.
• Sweetened breakfast cereals: Many commercial cereals, even some marketed as healthy, contain significant added sugar and refined grains.

The American Diabetes Association emphasizes carbohydrate quality over extreme restriction and stresses that healthy eating is about your overall pattern “over time,” not any single food or meal. Whole grains, legumes, and fiber-rich carbohydrates are metabolized more slowly and create gentler blood-sugar curves. A note of caution goes the other way, too: very-low-carbohydrate or ketogenic eating can raise the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis on SGLT2 inhibitors, so any major carbohydrate change should be discussed with your care team first.

Alcohol

Alcohol deserves particular caution with Jardiance. MedlinePlus notes that “alcohol may cause a change in blood sugar” and advises asking your doctor about safe use while on empagliflozin. The combination can raise the risk of hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar), especially if you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea, because alcohol impairs the liver’s ability to release stored glucose.

There is a second reason for restraint. SGLT2 inhibitors carry a rare but serious risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), including euglycemic DKA, where blood sugar may look near-normal. Heavy alcohol use can add to that risk by promoting dehydration and metabolic stress. If you drink, general diabetes guidance is to keep it moderate, never drink on an empty stomach, and monitor your blood sugar more closely — and to set your own limit with your prescriber, particularly if you take other glucose-lowering medicines.

High-Sodium Foods

Jardiance has a mild diuretic effect because the glucose it excretes pulls water along with it, and many people notice increased urination in the first few weeks. High-sodium foods can worsen fluid-balance issues and are especially relevant for the many Jardiance users who also have high blood pressure or heart failure.

• Processed meats: Deli meats, bacon, sausage, and hot dogs are among the highest-sodium foods in the American diet.
• Canned soups and vegetables: A single can of soup can contain a large share of a day’s sodium; look for low-sodium versions.
• Fast food: A typical fast-food meal can deliver well over half the daily recommended sodium limit.
• Soy sauce and salty condiments: A tablespoon of regular soy sauce carries a big sodium load; low-sodium versions help.

Most guidance suggests keeping sodium under about 2,300 mg daily, with a lower target often advised for people with cardiovascular concerns. If you have heart failure or hypertension, ask your clinician what sodium goal is right for you.

Genital and Urinary Infections: A Hygiene and Hydration Note

One well-known side effect of SGLT2 inhibitors is an increased risk of genital yeast infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs), because extra glucose in the urine creates a favorable environment for bacterial and fungal growth. Diet is only one piece of managing this. Foods high in added sugar may contribute more glucose to the urine, while staying well hydrated helps flush the urinary tract. Some people find unsweetened cranberry products or probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and kefir helpful, though the evidence is mixed and these are not treatments.

Good genital hygiene — keeping the area clean and dry and changing out of damp clothing promptly — can help lower the risk of yeast infections. This is general self-care, not a substitute for medical care. MedlinePlus warns that empagliflozin can, rarely, be linked to a serious infection of the tissue between the genitals and rectum (Fournier’s gangrene): seek medical care right away for feeling tired, weak, or unwell along with a fever plus pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling of the genitals. Ordinary UTI or yeast-infection symptoms — burning with urination, frequent urination, cloudy or strong-smelling urine, or genital itching and discharge — warrant a prompt call to your provider, since infections in people on SGLT2 inhibitors can occasionally escalate.

What You Can Eat: Jardiance-Friendly Foods

A diabetes-friendly diet on Jardiance does not have to feel restrictive. Many satisfying foods support both blood-sugar management and overall health.

• Non-starchy vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, leafy greens, tomatoes, green beans, and asparagus are low in carbohydrates and high in fiber and nutrients.
• Lean and plant proteins: Chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, tofu, and legumes provide steady energy without a big blood-sugar impact.
• Fiber-rich whole grains: Quinoa, brown rice, oats, barley, and whole-wheat products digest more slowly than refined alternatives.
• Healthy fats: Avocado, olive oil, nuts, and seeds support satiety and cardiovascular health.
• Lower-glycemic fruits: Berries, cherries, apples, and pears have a gentler glycemic impact than tropical fruits like mango and pineapple.
• Water and unsweetened beverages: Hydration is especially important on Jardiance (more on that below).

The Mayo Clinic and the ADA both point to a simple plate method for diabetes: fill half your plate with non-starchy vegetables, one quarter with lean protein, and one quarter with quality carbohydrates such as whole grains or starchy vegetables. Aiming for “adequate but not excessive” portions of carbohydrate — enough to fuel you and avoid over-restriction, without large refined-carb loads — fits well with how Jardiance works.

Hydration Is Critical

Because Jardiance increases urination, dehydration is a real concern — especially in hot weather, during exercise, or during an illness that causes vomiting or diarrhea. MedlinePlus is explicit: “empagliflozin can cause dehydration. It is important that you drink plenty of water while taking empagliflozin,” and you should ask your provider about the right fluid intake for you, particularly during illness or heavy sweating. Dehydration can lead to dizziness, low blood pressure, and, in severe cases, kidney injury.

Signs of dehydration to watch for include dark urine, dizziness on standing, dry mouth, and fatigue. If you notice these, increase fluids and contact your provider if they persist. Caffeine and alcohol can add to fluid loss, so count them against your hydration rather than toward it.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Sick Days: A Prescriber Matter

DKA is a medical emergency, and on SGLT2 inhibitors it can occur even when blood sugar looks near-normal. MedlinePlus advises stopping the medication and getting emergency care for symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomach-area pain, unusual tiredness, or difficulty breathing — and to check urine for ketones if these occur, even when blood glucose is below 250 mg/dL. Illness, infection, fever, injury, surgery, dehydration, heavy alcohol use, and very-low-carb eating can all raise the risk.

This is exactly why sick-day rules and any change to how you take Jardiance must come from your prescriber, not a diet article. Some clinicians advise temporarily pausing an SGLT2 inhibitor during acute illness, dehydration, or before surgery, but that decision is individual. Ask your care team in advance what you should do if you get sick, and never adjust your dose on your own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I eat fruit while taking Jardiance?

Yes, but choose wisely. Berries, apples, pears, and citrus have a lower glycemic index and are good picks. Limit large amounts of high-sugar tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, and banana. Whole fruit beats juice, because the fiber slows sugar absorption.

Does Jardiance work better with a low-carb diet?

Many people find that pairing Jardiance with a lower-carbohydrate pattern improves blood-sugar control. However, very-low-carb or ketogenic diets can raise the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis on SGLT2 inhibitors, so discuss any significant carbohydrate change with your doctor first.

Should I drink more water on Jardiance?

Generally yes. Because Jardiance increases glucose and fluid loss in the urine, staying well hydrated matters. MedlinePlus advises drinking plenty of water and asking your provider about the right amount for you, especially during hot weather, exercise, or illness.

Can I drink coffee on Jardiance?

Moderate coffee is generally fine, ideally unsweetened or lightly sweetened. Caffeine is a mild diuretic that can add to fluid loss, so count it toward your overall fluids and make up the difference with water.

Is there any food I absolutely cannot eat on Jardiance?

There is no formally banned food. The priorities are staying hydrated, limiting alcohol and large refined-carb or added-sugar loads, and eating a balanced, consistent pattern. Confirm your individual plan with your prescriber or a dietitian.

Building a Sustainable Diet on Jardiance

Knowing which foods to avoid when taking Jardiance is useful, but building sustainable habits matters more than memorizing a list of restrictions. Focus on consistent, balanced meals with adequate protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Stay hydrated, moderate alcohol, watch refined carbs and added sugar, and work with your healthcare team to find an eating pattern that keeps your blood sugar stable and supports your long-term goals. For more guidance on diet and medications, explore our wellness guide. You may also find our articles on foods to avoid with lisinopril and telehealth for diabetes management helpful.

Sources

• MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine, NIH) — Empagliflozin: SGLT2 mechanism, dehydration and “drink plenty of water,” alcohol/blood-sugar caution, DKA warning signs and ketone checks even below 250 mg/dL, genital-infection and Fournier’s warning signs, and sick-day guidance (“ask your doctor what to do if you get sick”)
• American Diabetes Association (ADA) — nutrition principles: carbohydrate quality over extreme restriction, non-starchy vegetables and lean/plant proteins, healthy eating “over time”
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — SGLT2 inhibitor class safety communications on diabetic ketoacidosis and on Fournier’s gangrene; empagliflozin prescribing information (urinary glucose excretion)
• Mayo Clinic — diabetes diet and the plate method