CONSUMER GUIDE 2018

MEDICATIONS

DRUG CLASS How It Works Generic Name Brand Name Cost*

TYPE 2 ORAL MEDICATIONS

Biguanide Lowers the amount of Metformin Glucophage Low

(available as a glucose produced by
generic) the liver
Metformin extended Glucophage XR, Glumetza, High
release Fortamet

Sulfonylureas Helps beta cells in the Glimepiride Amaryl Low

(available as a pancreas release
generic) more insulin Glipizide Glucotrol

Glipizide extended release Glucotrol XL

Glyburide, glibenclamide Micronase, Glynase, Diabeta

Meglitinides Nateglinide Starlix Moderate

(available as a
generic) Repaglinide Prandin

TZDs (available as Helps insulin work better Pioglitazone Actos Low

a generic) in muscle and fat cells.
Lowers glucose production
in the liver.

Alpha-glucosidase Blocks the breakdown of Acarbose Precose Moderate

inhibitors (available starches in the intestines
as a generic) Miglitol Glyset

DPP-4 inhibitors Prevents the breakdown of Alogliptin Nesina High

(not available as a GLP-1, a compound in the
generic) body that lowers blood Linagliptin Tradjenta
glucose levels
Saxagliptin Onglyza

Sitagliptin Januvia

Bile acid Lowers cholesterol and blood Colesevelam Welchol High

sequestrants (not glucose levels
available as a
generic)

Dopamine-2 Helps lower blood glucose Bromocriptine quick Cycloset High

agonists (not levels after a meal release~^
available as a
generic)

More >

d i a b e t e s f o r e c a s t .o r g 
 DRUG CLASS How It Works Generic Name Brand Name Cost*

SGLT2 inhibitors Blocks glucose from being Canagliflozin Invokana High

(not available as a reabsorbed by the kidneys.
generic) Excess glucose is released in Dapagliflozin Farxiga
the urine.
Empagliflozin Jardiance

*Cost is based on the lowest-priced drug in its class. Low-cost drugs cost less than $1 per day. Medium-cost drugs cost between
$1 and $2 per day. High-cost drugs cost more than $2 per day. There is much variation in cost, even within drug classes. ^This drug
is not recommended for use in conjunction with basal insulin therapy. ~This drug is not recommended for use in conjunction with
mealtime insulin therapy.

Each medication has its own side effects; read labels carefully to be sure you know what they are. The sulfonylureas
chlorpropamide (Diabinese) and tolazamide and the TZD rosiglitazone (Avanda) are available but rarely prescribed.

Oral Combination Therapy

Because the drugs listed in this chart act in different ways to lower blood glucose levels, providers will often prescribe multiple
drugs to a patient. For example, a doctor might prescribe both a biguanide and a sulfonylurea. Several of the more popular
combinations of oral drugs can be prescribed together in a single pill.

TYPE 2 INJECTED MEDICATIONS (NON-INSULIN)

Amylin (not Slows food moving through Pramlintide Symlin High

available as a the stomach. Also indicated
generic) for type 1 diabetes.

GLP-1 receptor Helps release insulin when Albiglutide~ Eperzan, Tanzeum High
agonists (not blood glucose is high and
available as a lower the amount of glucose Dulaglutide^ Trulicity
generic) produced by the liver.
Exenatide~ Byetta

Exenatide extended Bydureon, Bydureon BCise

release

Liraglutide~ Victoza

Lixisenatide~ Adlyxin

Semaglutide Ozempic

Insulin + GLP-1 Combines long-acting Insulin glargine/ Soliqua 100/33 High

receptor agonists insulin with a GLP-1 receptor Lixisenatide~
(not available as a agonist. The insulin helps
generic) glucose enter the cells to be Insulin degludec/ Xultophy 100/3.6
used as fuel. The GLP-1 helps Liraglutide
release insulin when blood
glucose is high and lower the
amount of glucose.

*Cost is based on the lowest-priced drug in its class. Low-cost drugs cost less than $1 per day. Medium-cost drugs cost between
$1 and $2 per day. High-cost drugs cost more than $2 per day. There is much variation in cost, even within drug classes. ^This
drug is not recommended for use in conjunction with basal insulin therapy. ~This drug is not recommended for use in conjunc-
tion with mealtime insulin therapy.

Each medication has its own side effects; read labels carefully to be sure you know what they are. The sulfonylureas chlorprop-
amide (Diabinese) and tolazamide and the TZD rosiglitazone (Avanda) are available but rarely prescribed.

Diabetes Forecast
 CONSUMER GUIDE 2018
MEDICATIONS

Generic Name
(U-100, except Brand Name Manufacturer Form Delivery Onset Peak Duration
where noted)

RAPID-ACTING INSULIN

Insulin aspart Fiasp Novo Analog Syringe; prefilled, 2.5 50 to 70 About 5

Nordisk 300-unit disposable minutes min. hours
pen

Insulin aspart NovoLog Novo Analog Syringe; prefilled, 10 to 20 40 to 50 3 to 5 hours

Nordisk 300-unit disposable min. min.
pen; reusable pen with
300-unit cartridges;
pump

Insulin glulisine Apidra Sanofi Analog Syringe; prefilled, 10 to 20 30 to 90 2 to 4 hours

300-unit disposable min. min.
pen; pump

Insulin human Afrezza MannKind Human Inhaler with 4-, 8-, and 3 to 7 12 to 15 min. 1.5 to 3
(inhaled powder) 12-unit cartridges min. hours

Insulin lispro Humalog Eli Lilly Analog Syringe; prefilled, 10 to 20 30 to 90 3 to 5 hours

(Also available in 300-unit disposable min. min.
U-200^) pen; reusable pen with
300-unit cartridges;
prefilled, 600-unit
disposable pen; pump

SHORT-ACTING INSULIN

Regular Humulin R* Eli Lilly Human Syringe 30 to 60 2 to 4 hours 5 to 8 hours

min.

Regular Novolin R, Novo Human Syringe 30 min. 80 to 120 Up to 8

ReliOn Nordisk min. hours
Novolin R

INTERMEDIATE-ACTING INSULIN

NPH Humulin N Eli Lilly Human Syringe; prefilled, 1 to 3 8 hours 12 to 16

300-unit disposable hours hours
pen

NPH Novolin N, Novo Nordisk Human Syringe 90 min. 4 to 12 Up to 24

ReliOn hours hours
Novolin N
(Walmart)

More >

d i a b e t e s f o r e c a s t .o r g
 Generic Name
(U-100, except Brand Name Manufacturer Form Delivery Onset Peak Duration
where noted)

LONG-ACTING INSULIN

Insulin detemir Levemir Novo Analog Syringe; prefilled, 1.6 hours No peak Up to 24
Nordisk 300-unit disposable hours
pen

Insulin glargine Basaglar Eli Lilly Analog Prefilled, 300-unit 1 hour No peak 24 hours
disposable pen

Insulin glargine Lantus Sanofi Analog Syringe; prefilled, 1 hour No peak 24 hours
300-unit disposable
pen

ULTRA-LONG-ACTING INSULIN

Insulin degludec Tresiba Novo Analog Prefilled, 300-unit 1 hour No peak At least
(Also available in Nordisk disposable pen; 42 hours
U-200^) prefilled, 600-unit
disposable pen

Insulin glargine Toujeo Sanofi Analog Prefilled, 450-unit 6 hours No peak 36 hours
(U-300^) disposable pen

INSULIN MIXTURES

50% lispro Humalog Eli Lilly Analog Syringe; prefilled, 10 to 15 Varies 16 to 22

protamine (NPL)/ Mix 50/50 300-unit disposable min. hours
50% insulin lispro pen

75% lispro Humalog Eli Lilly Analog Syringe; prefilled, 10 to 15 Varies 16 to 22

protamine (NPL)/ Mix 75/25 300-unit disposable min. hours
25% insulin lispro pen

70% aspart NovoLog Novo Analog Syringe; prefilled, 10 to 20 Varies Up to 24

protamine/30% Mix 70/30 ~ Nordisk 300-unit disposable min. hours
insulin aspart pen

70% NPH/30% Humulin Eli Lilly Human Syringe; prefilled, 30 to 60 Varies 12 to 16

Regular 70/30 300-unit disposable min. hours
pen

70% NPH/30% Novolin Novo Human Syringe 30 min. Varies Up to 24

Regular 70/30 ~, Nordisk hours
ReliOn
Novolin
70/30
(Walmart)

LESS COMMONLY USED INSULIN

Regular U-500 Humulin R Eli Lilly Human Syringe 30 min. 4 to 8 hours Up to 24

U-500*^ hours

*Note difference between Humulin R and Humulin R U-500. ~Note difference between NovoLog Mix 70/30 (70% aspart
protamine/30% insulin aspart) and Novolin 70/30 (70% NPH/30% Regular) ^U-100, U-200, U-300, and U-500 are different
concentrations of insulin. Higher concentrations of insulin are typically used in very insulin-resistant people.

Diabetes Forecast