Medication class

Diabetes

Drugs for managing type 1 and type 2 diabetes, including insulin, metformin, and newer agents like GLP-1 agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors.

Data updated 2026-05-15

43
Medications
24
With a generic
58%
Avg generic savings
1
In active shortage

Drug class assignments follow the FDA openFDA therapeutic classification, clinical details are drawn from FDA Structured Product Labeling via DailyMed, and unit-price comparisons use CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost data. See the full sources below.

Inventory versus report volume

Diabetes sits at inventory #5 of 22 and FAERS-volume #5. Nationally Mental Health is inventory #1 of 22 (77 drugs) ≠ Pain Relief FAERS-volume #1 at inventory #3.

#5
inventory
43
tracked drugs
#5
FAERS volume
#1
Pain Relief FAERS nationally

According to FDA FAERS report totals and openFDA class inventory compiled on /methodology. Class size is not the same map as report volume. This page is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

This class - generic availability cut

Exclusive DISTINCT-drug split of 43 medicines in Diabetes. Orthogonal to inventory vs FAERS dual and to the NADAC cost ChartBar.

tirzepatide tops Diabetes NADAC at $516.00/unit

Top 10 acquisition costs in this class (CMS NADAC)

per unit

What this shows tirzepatide is the costliest in this class at $516.00/unit; generics in the same class run a fraction of that.

Source CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC)

Diabetes · #5 inventory of 22 therapeutic classes

17 classes have fewer tracked drugs; percentile 77 among PlainMeds categories.

Diabetes vs all classes by tracked-drug count

Where this class's inventory sits among every PlainMeds therapeutic category

43 5th of 22 higher than 17 of 22 classes

Classes, banded by tracked-drug inventory

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more classes. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainMeds openFDA therapeutic-class inventory · 2026-05-15

Diabetes · lower generic band (56% vs 74% median)

56% of diabetes medications have a generic available, ranking #20 of 22 therapeutic classes (the typical class sits near 74%).

47% (lowest class) 100% (highest class)

Source: CMS NADAC generic-availability flags across all PlainMeds therapeutic classes. The dot is this class; the line is the cross-class median.

acarbose

Precose

Acarbose is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

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alogliptin

Nesina

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bromocriptine

Cycloset

Bromocriptine (Cycloset) is a medicine that acts like dopamine in your body.

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canagliflozin

Invokana

Invokana is a medicine used with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.

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colesevelam

Welchol

Colesevelam is a medicine that helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL-C) and control blood sugar in adults.

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dapagliflozin

Farxiga

Dapagliflozin (Farxiga) helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.

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diazoxide

Proglycem

VYKAT XR is a medicine used to treat excessive hunger in people with Prader-Willi syndrome.

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dulaglutide

Trulicity

Trulicity is a medicine to help control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.

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empagliflozin

Jardiance

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empagliflozin/linagliptin

Glyxambi

Glyxambi is a drug that combines three medicines to help lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.

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ertugliflozin

Steglatro

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exenatide

Byetta, Bydureon

Byetta is a medicine that helps adults with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar.

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glimepiride

Amaryl

Glimepiride is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.

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glipizide

Glucotrol

Glipizide is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.

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glucagon

Baqsimi, GlucaGen

Glucagon is a medicine that helps raise your blood sugar if it gets too low.

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glyburide

DiaBeta, Glynase

Glyburide is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.

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insulin NPH

Humulin N, Novolin N

Humulin N is an intermediate-acting insulin that helps control blood sugar.

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insulin aspart

NovoLog, Fiasp

NovoLog (insulin aspart) is a rapid-acting insulin that helps control blood sugar in people with diabetes.

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insulin degludec

Tresiba

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insulin detemir

Levemir

Levemir is a long-acting insulin that helps control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

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insulin glargine

Lantus, Basaglar, Toujeo

Basaglar is a long-acting insulin that helps control blood sugar levels.

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insulin glulisine

Apidra

Apidra is a rapid-acting insulin that helps control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

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insulin human/insulin isophane

Humulin 70/30

Humulin 70/30 is a mix of two types of insulin.

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insulin lispro

Humalog

Admelog is a rapid-acting insulin that helps control blood sugar levels.

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insulin regular

Humulin R, Novolin R

Humulin R is a short-acting insulin that helps control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

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linagliptin

Tradjenta

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liraglutide

Victoza, Saxenda

Liraglutide is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar levels.

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metformin

Glucophage, Fortamet, Glumetza

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metformin/empagliflozin

Synjardy

Synjardy is a drug that combines empagliflozin and metformin.

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metformin/glipizide

Metaglip

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metformin/pioglitazone

Actoplus Met

Actoplus Met is a drug that combines two medicines to help control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.

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metformin/sitagliptin

Janumet

Janumet XR is a drug that combines sitagliptin and metformin.

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miglitol

Glyset

Miglitol (Glyset) helps control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.

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nateglinide

Starlix

Nateglinide (Starlix) helps control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.

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phentermine

Adipex-P, Lomaira

Phentermine is a drug that can help you lose weight.

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pioglitazone

Actos

Pioglitazone (Actos) is a medicine that helps control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.

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pramlintide

Symlin

Symlin is a drug that helps control blood sugar in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who also use insulin.

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repaglinide

Prandin

Repaglinide (Prandin) helps control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.

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rosiglitazone

Avandia

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saxagliptin

Onglyza

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semaglutide

Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus

Ozempic is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.

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sitagliptin

Januvia

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tirzepatide

Mounjaro, Zepbound

Zepbound is a medicine that can help adults with obesity or overweight lose weight and keep it off.

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Compare acarbose vs alogliptin side-by-side →

Diabetes · large class with 1 active shortage

Diabetes sits at inventory #5 of 22 and FAERS-volume #5. Nationally Mental Health is inventory #1 of 22 (77 drugs) ≠ Pain Relief FAERS-volume #1 at inventory #3. 43 medicines tracked; 24 carry a NADAC generic flag; 1 in active FDA shortage.

← Back to all drugs

Classes nearest Diabetes by inventory size

Infections 41 Skin 41 Acid Reflux & Stomach 38 Respiratory 36 Hormones 34 Blood Pressure 54 Pain Relief 55 Heart 31

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.