Dosage will vary depending on the individual. This medication:. Tresiba insulin degludec injection was approved in It is a long-acting injectable insulin that is used to improve glycemic control in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It is not recommended for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Dosage varies based on:. Xultophy insulin degludec and liraglutide injection was approved in It is an injectable long-acting insulin. Along with diet and exercise, it is used to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Xultophy is not recommended as the first choice of medication for those who don't see blood sugar control improvement with diet and exercise.

Animal studies show that liraglutide, an ingredient in Xultophy, causes thyroid C-cell tumors, which are abnormal tissue growths on the thyroid gland. It is not known whether Xultophy causes thyroid C-cell tumors in humans. Toujeo insulin glargine injection was approved in and is an injectable long-acting insulin.

It is used for adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes to improve glycemic control. It is administered once daily, at the same time every day. Insulin medications may be used to help stabilize blood sugar levels in those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Insulin medications may be inhaled or injected into the skin. Injectable options are administered under the skin and treat individuals with type 2 diabetes. BYDUREON BCise exenatide extended-release was approved in It is an injection for adults with type 2 diabetes and is used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar levels.

In animal studies, this medication led to thyroid C-cell tumors. It is not known whether it can cause this same effect in humans. Soliqua insulin glargine and lixisenatide injection was approved for use in It is an injection that contains a combination of long-acting insulin and a glucagon-like peptide, which is a hormone that triggers insulin release.

This medication is used along with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is not recommended for those with gastroparesis , a condition where the stomach cannot empty itself properly.

Ozempic semaglutide was approved in It is a glucagon-like peptide injection used along with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

It is not recommended as the first option for treatment for patients who have not seen improvement in glycemic control with diet and exercise. Semaglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors in animals. It is not known whether Ozempic causes thyroid C-cell tumors in humans.

Mounjaro tirzepatide is the first and only GIP glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and GLP-1 glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved for use in addition to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Mounjaro is available in six doses 2. It comes in an auto-injector pen with a pre-attached, hidden needle that doesn't need to be handled or seen. Mounjaro may cause tumors in the thyroid, including thyroid cancer. Do not use Mounjaro if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma MTC.

Do not use Mounjaro if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 MEN 2. Adlyxin lixisenatide was approved in It is a glucagon-like peptide and is prescribed along with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

It is an injection that is administered once a day an hour before the first meal. It can be injected into the stomach, thigh, or upper arm.

The initial dosage is 10 mcg once a day for 14 days; at day 15, the dosage increases to 20 mcg daily. Injectable options treat those with type 2 diabetes. Side effects can range from mild to severe. The FDA approved updates post-marketing label of Ozempic to note the potential increased risk of intestinal blockage.

The condition, called ileus, occurs when there are problems pushing food through the intestine and can cause build-up and blockage there.

The weight loss drug Wegovy , which has the same active ingredient as Ozempic, and the diabetes drug Mounjaro have listed ileus on their safety labels. Many new medication options have been developed for type 1 or type 2 diabetes in recent years.

The newest treatment options include medications taken by mouth, synthetic insulins, as well as injectables. Keep in mind that certain medications may lead to side effects in some individuals. What is considered the best may differ from person to person.

When reviewing which medication is the best option for you, you may want to think about cost, side effects, and how the medication is administered. A combination metformin medication is considered safe and seems to cause minimal side effects in most people. Keep in mind that only the extended-release version of metformin was recalled by the FDA.

Oral medications that don't contain metformin include Steglatro ertuglifozin , Glyxambi empaglifozin and linagliptin , Kerendia finerenone , and Steglujan ertugliflozin and sitagliptin. If you would like to switch medications, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider.

ElSayed NA, Aleppo G, Aroda VR, et al. Pharmacologic approaches to glycemic treatment: Standards of care in diabetes— Some risk factors that predispose people to developing type 2 diabetes, such as genetics and age, are not modifiable. Other risk factors, such as being overweight or having obesity, can be altered.

In many people, diet and exercise are not enough to reach this goal, and one or more medications may be needed.

Metformin is a tried and tested medicine that has been used for many decades to treat type 2 diabetes, and is recommended by most experts as first-line therapy. It is affordable, safe, effective, and well tolerated by most people.

When metformin does not adequately control blood sugar, another medication must be added. It is at this point that doctors and patients must choose among the many drugs and drugs classes available to treat type 2 diabetes.

So, how to choose a medication? Each person with diabetes has their own goals, needs, and preferences. Before choosing a medicine, it is important to ask some relevant questions: Is my blood sugar at goal?

Is this medicine affordable? Do I have heart or kidney disease? What are the side effects? Is it a pill or injection, and how often is it taken? Regardless of which treatment is selected, the American Diabetes Association Standards of Care recommends reassessment of diabetes control every three to six months, followed by modifications to treatment if needed.

Lately, newer treatment options for type 2 diabetes — glucagon-like peptide-1 GLP-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 SGLT2 inhibitors — have been heavily advertised. These newer drug classes lower blood sugar and also have cardiovascular and kidney benefits.

All drugs in this group except one are self-injected under the skin, either daily or weekly. Several of them, such as liraglutide Victoza , semaglutide Ozempic , and dulaglutide Trulicity , have been shown to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in people who are at high risk for it, or who have pre-existing heart disease.

They also promote weight loss. Some people who take GLP-1 receptor agonists may have side effects such as nausea and vomiting, and in very rare cases pancreatitis. SGLT2 inhibitors like empagliflozin Jardiance , canagliflozin Invokana , dapagliflozin Farxiga , and ertugliflozin Steglatro are also a newer class of medications that work by blocking your kidneys from reabsorbing sugar back into your body.

They also have cardiovascular benefits, especially in those who have heart failure, and have been shown to slow the progression of diabetic kidney disease. Other benefits include lowering blood pressure and promoting weight loss. Use of these medications may increase the risk of genital yeast infections, especially in women.

A rare but serious consequence of SGLT2 inhibitors is diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a medical emergency that can be avoided by stopping these medications in consultation with your doctor before major surgeries, or if you are ill or fasting.

While these diabetes medications certainly have more to offer than just improvements in blood sugar, they remain costly and inaccessible to many individuals. Can be taken with or without food. May increase risk for bladder cancer and bone fracture.

Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors work in your stomach and bowels to slow down the absorption of sugars and carbohydrates. Taken once daily. These medicines may lower your blood pressure.

If you are on a water pill diuretic already, the dose of your water pill may need to be reduced. Have your kidney function tested before starting this medication. These medicines may cause modest weight loss and lower blood pressure. May also cause urinary tract infections or yeast infections.

DPP-4 Inhibitors work by increasing the release of insulin and decreasing the release of sugar from the liver. Take once daily. Tell your doctor if you have abdominal pain pain in your belly , nausea and vomiting. Sitagliptin Januvia , Saxigliptin Onglyza , Linagliptin Tradjenta , Alogliptin Nesina.

Sometimes two diabetic medications are combined in a single pill. These combination medicines work like both medicines in the pill and reduce the number of pills needed. They can be costly and may not be covered by insurance. If you are prescribed a combination pill, discuss how it works with your doctor or pharmacist.

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It is administered once daily, at the same time every day. Insulin medications may be used to help stabilize blood sugar levels in those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Insulin medications may be inhaled or injected into the skin.

Injectable options are administered under the skin and treat individuals with type 2 diabetes. BYDUREON BCise exenatide extended-release was approved in It is an injection for adults with type 2 diabetes and is used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar levels.

In animal studies, this medication led to thyroid C-cell tumors. It is not known whether it can cause this same effect in humans.

Soliqua insulin glargine and lixisenatide injection was approved for use in It is an injection that contains a combination of long-acting insulin and a glucagon-like peptide, which is a hormone that triggers insulin release. This medication is used along with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

It is not recommended for those with gastroparesis , a condition where the stomach cannot empty itself properly. Ozempic semaglutide was approved in It is a glucagon-like peptide injection used along with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

It is not recommended as the first option for treatment for patients who have not seen improvement in glycemic control with diet and exercise.

Semaglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors in animals. It is not known whether Ozempic causes thyroid C-cell tumors in humans. Mounjaro tirzepatide is the first and only GIP glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and GLP-1 glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved for use in addition to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Mounjaro is available in six doses 2. It comes in an auto-injector pen with a pre-attached, hidden needle that doesn't need to be handled or seen.

Mounjaro may cause tumors in the thyroid, including thyroid cancer. Do not use Mounjaro if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma MTC.

Do not use Mounjaro if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 MEN 2. Adlyxin lixisenatide was approved in It is a glucagon-like peptide and is prescribed along with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is an injection that is administered once a day an hour before the first meal.

It can be injected into the stomach, thigh, or upper arm. The initial dosage is 10 mcg once a day for 14 days; at day 15, the dosage increases to 20 mcg daily. Injectable options treat those with type 2 diabetes. Side effects can range from mild to severe.

The FDA approved updates post-marketing label of Ozempic to note the potential increased risk of intestinal blockage. The condition, called ileus, occurs when there are problems pushing food through the intestine and can cause build-up and blockage there.

The weight loss drug Wegovy , which has the same active ingredient as Ozempic, and the diabetes drug Mounjaro have listed ileus on their safety labels. Many new medication options have been developed for type 1 or type 2 diabetes in recent years.

The newest treatment options include medications taken by mouth, synthetic insulins, as well as injectables. Keep in mind that certain medications may lead to side effects in some individuals.

What is considered the best may differ from person to person. When reviewing which medication is the best option for you, you may want to think about cost, side effects, and how the medication is administered. A combination metformin medication is considered safe and seems to cause minimal side effects in most people.

Keep in mind that only the extended-release version of metformin was recalled by the FDA. Oral medications that don't contain metformin include Steglatro ertuglifozin , Glyxambi empaglifozin and linagliptin , Kerendia finerenone , and Steglujan ertugliflozin and sitagliptin.

If you would like to switch medications, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider. ElSayed NA, Aleppo G, Aroda VR, et al. Pharmacologic approaches to glycemic treatment: Standards of care in diabetes— Diabetes Care. Food and Drug Administration. Steglatro label.

Glyxambi label. Steglujan label. Xigduo xr label. FDA alerts patients and health care professionals to nitrosamine impurity findings in certain metformin extended-release products. Synjardy label. Segluromet label. Kerendia label. Human insulin injection. Afrezza label. Semglee label. Tresiba label.

Xultophy label. Toujeo label. Bydureon label. Soliqua label. Ozempic label. Cision US, Inc. FDA approves Lilly's Mounjaro tirzepatide injection, the first and only GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes.

Adlyxin label. Harvard Health Publishing. Type 2 diabetes: which medication is best for me? Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising.

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Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Oral Medicines. Newer Insulins. Frequently Asked Questions. Management of a complex disease like diabetes takes an entire team, with you being the key team member. Samar Hafida, MD , Contributor.

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No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Living Well with Diabetes helps you better understand and manage your diabetes. It includes detailed, updated information about medications and alternative treatments for diabetes, and a special section on weight-loss strategies.

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Beyond the usual suspects for healthy resolutions. About the Author. Samar Hafida, MD , Contributor Samar Hafida, MD, is an adult endocrinologist at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, MA. Her special interests include weight management and the effect of metabolic surgery in the management of type 2 diabetes.

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