Two medicines, side by side
Insulin degludec vs insulin glargine
Insulin degludec and insulin glargine are both labeled for type 2 diabetes and type 1 diabetes. Drugs@FDA records approvals of insulin degludec since 2015 and of insulin glargine since 2015. Pharmacies paid $11.39 per mL (Insulin degludec flextouch 100 unit/mL pen) and $2.90 per mL (Insulin glargine-yfgn u100 pen) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Insulin glargine's other strengths are brand-only: $5.92 per mL (Rezvoglar 100 unit/mL kwikpen). How each works, in its label's words: Insulin degludec, “The primary activity of insulin, including Insulin Degludec, is regulation of glucose metabolism.”; Insulin glargine, “The primary activity of insulin, including insulin glargine, is regulation of glucose metabolism.”
Check it at the source: the insulin degludec FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 1, 2022); the insulin glargine FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 16, 2026).
Highlights of the insulin degludec record
Insulin degludec (Tresiba) · label of July 1, 2022
Used for
From the label: indicationsInsulin Degludec is indicated to improve glycemic control in patients 1 year of age and older with diabetes mellitus. Limitations of Use • Not recommended for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis. Insulin Degludec is a long-acting human insulin analog indicated to improve glycemic control in patients 1 year of age and older with diabetes mellitus ( 1 ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 25, 2015
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $11.39 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Highlights of the insulin glargine record
Insulin glargine (Lantus) · label of June 16, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsBASAGLAR ® is indicated to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. BASAGLAR ® is a long-acting human insulin analog indicated to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 16, 2015
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $2.90 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Insulin degludec label of July 1, 2022, Insulin glargine label of June 16, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do insulin degludec and insulin glargine differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Insulin degludec, “The primary activity of insulin, including Insulin Degludec, is regulation of glucose metabolism.”; Insulin glargine, “The primary activity of insulin, including insulin glargine, is regulation of glucose metabolism.”
Both are in FDA's class insulin analogs.
| Insulin degludec | Insulin glargine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes | Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes |
| Pharmacologic class | Insulin Analog | Insulin Analog |
| How it works (label) | The primary activity of insulin, including Insulin Degludec, is regulation of glucose metabolism. | The primary activity of insulin, including insulin glargine, is regulation of glucose metabolism. |
| Half-life (label) | On average, the half-life at steady state is approximately 25 hours independent of dose. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 25, 2015 | December 16, 2015 |
| First generic approved | none | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $11.39 per mL (Insulin degludec flextouch 100 unit/mL pen) | $2.90 per mL (Insulin glargine-yfgn u100 pen) |
| 12-month price change | +0.1% | -51% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 23,334 | 245,619 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to insulin degludec
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions