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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, and clinical details are drawn from FDA Structured Product Labeling (DailyMed). See the full sources below.

PlainMeds tracks 43 diabetes medications compiled from official FDA drug labels, including metformin, insulin glargine, insulin lispro.

Diabetes medications are grouped here by the openFDA therapeutic classification and drawn from FDA Structured Product Labeling. PlainMeds lists 43 in this class, 24 with a lower-cost generic available (averaging about 58% versus brand). Each drug page covers labeled uses, FAERS-reported side effects, interactions, recalls and NADAC pricing. This is educational information from public data, not medical advice.

What diabetes drugs cost

Highest NADAC acquisition cost per unit in this class, brand and generic

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)

Generic availability vs other classes

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 →

Understanding the Diabetes Category

The Diabetes category currently lists 43 medications in this database, each drawn from FDA drug labels and grouped by therapeutic classification. Drugs for managing type 1 and type 2 diabetes, including insulin, metformin, and newer agents like GLP-1 agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors. Clinical guidelines usually treat these medications as a reference set when weighing treatment options, switching strategies, or comparing safety profiles.

Within this category you'll find examples such as metformin, insulin glargine, insulin lispro, alongside 40 other entries. Each drug page links to the same underlying FDA data, labeled uses, adverse events reported to FAERS, documented interactions, warnings, and, where available, NADAC acquisition pricing from CMS. Over-the-counter and prescription options can sit in the same category but follow different regulatory pathways: OTC products have simplified labeling aimed at self-care, while prescription drugs include detailed monographs meant for clinicians. That distinction matters when comparing dosing, monitoring requirements, and contraindications.

Browsing a category is a research starting point, not a treatment recommendation. Effectiveness, tolerability, and cost for any individual patient depend on the specific condition, comorbidities, other medications, genetics, and insurance coverage, none of which can be inferred from a category list alone. FAERS report counts, recall history, and shortage status all evolve as new data is reported to the FDA, so the relative standing of drugs in this class can shift month to month. This page is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, a licensed clinician is the right source for personalized guidance.

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Sources: FDA Drug Labels (SPL); openFDA therapeutic classification.

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

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.