**Medications for Diabetes: A Thorough Guide**
Diabetes is a chronic disease that results from the pancreas’s diminished insulin production and a reduced sensitivity to insulin in muscle cells. Common symptoms include frequent urination, severe thirst, elevated blood sugar levels, and increased hunger. Diabetes primarily comes in two types: Type 1 and Type 2.
Fortunately, today there are numerous medications available to manage diabetes more effectively. This article explores the diverse medications used for treatment.
Comprehensive List of Diabetes Medications
Below is a list of diabetes medications available in the U.S. for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes (sorted alphabetically):
- Acarbose
- Alogliptin (Nesina)
- Alogliptin-metformin (Kazano)
- Alogliptin-pioglitazone (Oseni)
- Bromocriptine mesylate (Cycloset, Parlodel)
- Canagliflozin (Invokana)
- Canagliflozin-metformin (Invokamet)
- Dapagliflozin (Farxiga)
- Dapagliflozin-metformin (Xigduo XR)
- Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
- Empagliflozin (Jardiance)
- Empagliflozin-linagliptin (Glyxambi)
- Empagliflozin-metformin (Synjardy)
- Empagliflozin-linagliptin-metformin (Trijardy XR)
- Ertugliflozin (Steglatro)
- Ertugliflozin-metformin (Segluromet)
- Ertugliflozin-sitagliptin (Steglujan)
- Exenatide (Byetta)
- Exenatide ER (Bydureon BCise)
- Glimepiride (Amaryl)
- Glipizide (Glucotrol)
- Glipizide-metformin (Metaglip)
- Glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase)
- Glyburide-metformin (Glucovance)
- Insulin aspart (Fiasp, NovoLog)
- Insulin degludec (Tresiba)
- Insulin glargine (Basaglar, Lantus, Toujeo)
- Insulin inhaled (Afrezza)
- Insulin Isophane (Humulin N, Novolin N)
- Insulin Isophane/regular insulin (Humulin 70/30, Novolin 70/30)
- Insulin lispro (Humalog)
- Linagliptin (Tradjenta)
- Lixisenatide (Adlyxin)
- Liraglutide (Victoza)
- Metformin (Fortamet, Glucophage, Glumetza, Riomet)
- Miglitol (Glyset)
- Nateglinide (Starlix)
- Pioglitazone (Actos)
- Pioglitazone-metformin (ACTOplus met)
- Pramlintide (Symlin)
- Repaglinide (Prandin)
- Rosiglitazone (Avandia)
- Saxagliptin (Onglyza)
- Semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus)
- Sitagliptin (Januvia)
- Sitagliptin-metformin (Janumet, Jentadueto)
Classes of Diabetes Medications
Diabetes medications are categorized into various classes and work through different mechanisms to control blood sugar levels. These medications can be taken orally or administered via injections. Many patients prefer oral medications due to their ease of use. Here are some specific classes of diabetes drugs:
- Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
- Biguanides
- Bile Acid Sequestrants
- Dopamine-2 Agonists
- DPP-4 inhibitors
- Meglitinides
- SGLT2 Inhibitors
- Sulfonylureas
- Thiazolidinediones (TZDs)
- Oral combination therapy
Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes Medications
The medications prescribed depend on the type of diabetes you have, meaning prescriptions will differ based on whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes Medication List
- Insulin
- Short-acting insulin
- Regular insulin (Humulin and Novolin)
- Rapid-acting insulin
- Insulin aspart (NovoLog, FlexPen, Fiasp)
- Insulin glulisine (Apidra)
- Insulin lispro (Humalog)
- Intermediate-acting insulin
- Insulin isophane (Humulin N, Novolin N)
- Long-acting insulin
- Insulin degludec (Tresiba)
- Insulin detemir (Levemir)
- Insulin glargine (Lantus, Toujeo)
- Short-acting insulin
- Combination insulins
- NovoLog Mix 70/30 (insulin aspart protamine-insulin aspart)
- Humalog Mix 75/25 (insulin lispro protamine-insulin lispro)
- Humalog Mix 50/50 (insulin lispro protamine-insulin lispro)
- Humulin 70/30 (human insulin NPH-human insulin regular)
- Novolin 70/30 (human insulin NPH-human insulin regular)
- Ryzodeg (insulin degludec-insulin aspart)
- Amylin analogs
- Pramlintide (SymlinPen 120, SymlinPen 60)
Type 2 Diabetes Medication List
- Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
- Acarbose (Precose)
- Miglitol (Glyset)
- Biguanides
- Metformin-alogliptin (Kazano)
- Metformin-canagliflozin (Invokamet)
- Metformin-dapagliflozin (Xigduo XR)
- Metformin-empagliflozin (Synjardy)
- Metformin-glipizide
- Metformin-glyburide (Glucovance)
- Metformin-linagliptin (Jentadueto)
- Metformin-pioglitazone (Actoplus)
- Metformin-repaglinide (PrandiMet)
- Metformin-rosiglitazone (Avandamet)
- Metformin-saxagliptin (Kombiglyze XR)
- Metformin-sitagliptin (Janumet)
- Dopamine agonists
- Bromocriptine (Cycloset)
- Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP-4) inhibitors
- Alogliptin (Nesina)
- Alogliptin-metformin (Kazano)
- Alogliptin-pioglitazone (Oseni)
- Linagliptin (Tradjenta)
- Linagliptin-empagliflozin (Glyxambi)
- Linagliptin-metformin (Jentadueto)
- Saxagliptin (Onglyza)
- Saxagliptin-metformin (Kombiglyze XR)
- Sitagliptin (Januvia)
- Sitagliptin-metformin (Janumet and Janumet XR)
- Sitagliptin and simvastatin (Juvisync)
- Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 receptor agonists)
- Albiglutide (Tanzeum)
- Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
- Exenatide (Byetta)
- Exenatide extended-release (Bydureon)
- Liraglutide (Victoza)
- Semaglutide (Ozempic)
- Meglitinides
- Nateglinide (Starlix)
- Repaglinide (Prandin)
- Repaglinide-metformin (Prandimet)
- Sodium-glucose transporter (SGLT) 2 inhibitors
- Dapagliflozin (Farxiga)
- Dapagliflozin-metformin (Xigduo XR)
- Canagliflozin (Invokana)
- Canagliflozin-metformin (Invokamet)
- Empagliflozin (Jardiance)
- Empagliflozin-linagliptin (Glyxambi)
- Empagliflozin-metformin (Synjardy)
- Ertugliflozin (Steglatro)
- Sulfonylureas
- Glimepiride (Amaryl)
- Glimepiride-pioglitazone (Duetact)
- Glimepiride-rosiglitazone (Avandaryl)
- Gliclazide
- Glipizide (Glucotrol)
- Glipizide-metformin (Metaglip)
- Glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase, Micronase)
- Glyburide-metformin (Glucovance)
- Chlorpropamide (Diabinese)
- Tolazamide (Tolinase)
- Tolbutamide (Orinase, Tol-Tab)
- Thiazolidinediones
- Rosiglitazone (Avandia)
- Rosiglitazone-glimepiride (Avandaryl)
- Rosiglitazone-metformin (Amaryl M)
- Pioglitazone (Actos)
- Pioglitazone-alogliptin (Oseni)
- Pioglitazone-glimepiride (Duetact)
- Pioglitazone-metformin (Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR)