If you have type 2 diabetes, your body makes insulin but no longer uses it well. Your body can’t make enough insulin to keep your blood sugar levels within an optimal range.
The goal of your treatment is to help your body use insulin better or to get rid of extra glucose in your blood.
Most medications for type 2 diabetes are oral drugs. However, insulin or injectables may also be used. Some of these medications are combinations of more than one diabetes drug.
Insulin
Some people with type 2 diabetes may also need to take insulin. The same types of insulin used to treat type 1 diabetes can also treat type 2 diabetes.
A doctor may recommend the aforementioned types of insulin used in type 1 diabetes treatment for type 2 diabetes. As with type 1 diabetes, this depends on the type of insulin needed and how severe your insulin deficiency is. See the above types of insulin to discuss with a doctor.
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
These medications help your body break down starchy foods and table sugar. This effect lowers your blood sugar levels.
When taken as prescribed, these medications won’t cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). However, your risk of hypoglycemia may be greater if you take them with other types of diabetes medications.
For best results, take alpha-glucosidase inhibitors before meals. These medications include:
- acarbose
- miglitol (Glyset)
Biguanides
Biguanides decrease how much glucose your liver makes. They also decrease how much glucose your intestines absorb, help your muscles absorb glucose, and make your body more sensitive to insulin.
The most common biguanide is metformin (Glumetza, Riomet, Riomet ER).
Metformin is considered the most commonlyTrusted Source prescribed oral medication for type 2 diabetes, and it can also be combined with other type 2 diabetes medications. It’s an ingredient in the following medications:
- metformin-alogliptin (Kazano)
- metformin-canagliflozin (Invokamet)
- metformin-dapagliflozin (Xigduo XR)
- metformin-empagliflozin (Synjardy)
- metmorfin-ertugliflozin (Segluromet)
- metformin-glipizide
- metformin-glyburide (Glucovance)
- metformin-linagliptin (Jentadueto, Jentadueto XR)
- metformin-pioglitazone (Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR)
- metformin-repaglinide (PrandiMet)
- metformin-rosiglitazone (Avandamet)
- metformin-saxagliptin (Kombiglyze XR)
- metformin-sitagliptin (Janumet, Janumet XR)
Dopamine-2 agonist
Bromocriptine (Cycloset, Parlodel) is a dopamine-2 agonist.
It’s unknown exactly how this drug treats type 2 diabetes. It may affect rhythms in your body and prevent insulin resistance. According to one 2015 reviewTrusted Source, dopamine-2 agonists may also improve other related health concerns, such as high cholesterol or weight management.
Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors
DPP-4 inhibitors are used to help reduce blood sugar without causing hypoglycemia.
DPP-4 inhibitors blockTrusted Source the DPP-4 enzyme. This enzyme destroys a hormone called incretin, which normally helps your body produce insulin when it’s needed. Incretins also decrease glucose output from the liver when your body doesn’t need it.
These drugs can also help the pancreas make more insulin.
Examples of DPP-4 inhibitors include:
- alogliptin (Nesina)
- alogliptin-metformin (Kazano)
- linagliptin (Tradjenta)
- linagliptin-empagliflozin (Glyxambi)
- linagliptin-metformin (Jentadueto, Jentadueto XR)
- saxagliptin (Onglyza)
- saxagliptin-metformin (Kombiglyze XR)
- sitagliptin (Januvia)
- sitagliptin-metformin (Janumet and Janumet XR)
- sitagliptin and simvastatin (Juvisync)
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 receptor agonists)
GLP-1 receptor agonists are similar to incretin and may be prescribed in addition to a diet and exercise plan to help promote better glycemic control.
They increase how much insulin your body uses and the growth of pancreatic beta cells. They decrease your appetite and how much glucagon your body uses. They also slow stomach emptying, which may maximize nutrient absorption from the foods you eat while potentially helpingTrusted Source you maintain or lose weight.
These are all important actions for people with diabetes.
For some people, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease may predominate over their diabetes. In these cases, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends certain GLP-1 receptor agonists as part of an antihyperglycemic treatment regimen.
These drugs include:
- dulaglutide (Trulicity)
- exenatide (Byetta)
- exenatide extended-release (Bydureon BCise)
- liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza)
- lixisenatide (Adylyxin)
- semaglutide (Ozempic)
- tirzepatide (Mounjaro)
Meglitinides
These medications help your body release insulin. However, they aren’t for everyone. In some cases, they may lower your blood sugar too much, especially if you have Trusted Source advanced kidney disease.
These drugs include:
- nateglinide (Starlix)
- repaglinide (Prandin)
Sodium-glucose transporter (SGLT) 2 inhibitors
Sodium-glucose transporter (SGLT) 2 inhibitors work by preventing the kidneys from holding on to glucose. Instead, your body gets rid of the glucose through your urine.
Again, in cases where atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease predominate, the ADA recommends SGLT2 inhibitors as a possible treatment option. Examples includeTrusted Source:
- canagliflozin (Invokana)
- canagliflozin-metformin (Invokamet, Invokamet XR)
- dapagliflozin (Farxiga)
- dapagliflozin-metformin (Xigduo XR)
- dapagliflozin-saxagliptin (Qtern)
- empagliflozin (Jardiance)
- empagliflozin-linagliptin (Glyxambi)
- empaglifozin-linagliptin-metmorfin (Trijardy XR)
- empagliflozin-metformin (Synjardy, Synjardy XR)
- ertugliflozin (Steglatro)
Sulfonylureas
These are among the oldestTrusted Source diabetes drugs still used today. They work by stimulating the pancreas with the help of beta cells. This causes your body to make more insulin.
These drugs include:
- glimepiride (Amaryl)
- glimepiride-pioglitazone (Duetact)
- gliclazide
- glipizide
- glipizide ER (Glipizide XL, Glucotrol XL)
- glipizide-metformin
- glyburide (Glynase)
- glyburide-metformin
Thiazolidinediones
Thiazolidinediones work by decreasing glucose in your liver. They also help your fat cells use insulin better by targeting insulin resistanceTrusted Source.
These drugs come with an increased risk of heart disease. If your doctor gives you one of these drugs, they’ll watch your heart function during treatment.
Options include:
- rosiglitazone
- pioglitazone-alogliptin (Oseni)
- pioglitazone-glimepiride (Duetact)
- pioglitazone-metformin (Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR)
Other drugs
People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes often need to take other medications to treat conditions that are common with diabetes.
These drugs can include:Trusted Source
- aspirin for heart health
- medications for high cholesterol
- high blood pressure medications
Talk with a doctor
Many medications are available to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes. They each work in different ways to help you control your blood sugar.
Ask a doctor which diabetes drug may be the best fit for you. They will make recommendations based on the type of diabetes you have, your health, and other factors. It’s also important to know that new medications for diabetes are constantly being investigated for approval.