Diabetes Drugs List. Diabetes is a chronic disease caused by decreased insulin production from the pancreas and reduced insulin sensitivity in muscle cells. Some of the symptoms of diabetes are excessive urination, extreme thirst, high blood sugar, and increased appetite, which can be classified into Type 1 and Type 2.
Luckily, several medications are now available to manage this condition more effectively. This article explains the various available diabetes medication that you can use for treatment.
Diabetes Drugs List
This list contains some of the diabetes drugs available in the United States for both Type I and Type II conditions (in alphabetical order):
- 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 Drugs
There are various classes of diabetes medicines that work in different ways and forms to control blood sugar levels. For instance, there are pills for diabetes taken orally, while others may be introduced via intravenous injection. Many patients, though, prefer to medicate through drugs rather than the latter. Here are some of the more 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 Drugs
The drugs you take are determined by the type of diabetes you have. Hence, your prescription drugs may vary depending on the type of diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes Drug 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
- Insulin degludec (Tresiba)
- Insulin detemir (Levemir)
- Insulin glargine (Lantus)
- Insulin glargine (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 Drug 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)