**Medications for Diabetes: A Comprehensive Guide**
Diabetes, a chronic condition, arises from the pancreas’s reduced insulin production and a decreased sensitivity to insulin in muscle cells. The symptoms include frequent urination, severe thirst, high blood sugar levels, and increased hunger. Diabetes can be categorized into two main types: Type 1 and Type 2.
Fortunately, there are numerous medications available today to help manage diabetes more efficiently. This article delves into the various medications you can use for treatment.
Diabetes Medications List
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)
- Canaglifozin (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 belong to various classes and work through different mechanisms to manage blood sugar levels. These medications can be administered orally or through intravenous injections. Many patients prefer oral medications due to their convenience. 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
- TZDs
- Oral combination therapy
Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes Medications
The medications you take will depend on the type of diabetes you have. Therefore, prescriptions will vary 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
- Short-acting insulin
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- Insulin degludec (Tresiba)
- Insulin detemir (Levemir)
- Insulin glargine (Lantus, Toujeo)
- 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)
- Amylinometic drug
- 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 agonist
- 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)