A PLAIN-LANGUAGE GUIDE COMPARING DIABETES MEDICATION CLASSES, HOW THEY’RE TAKEN, THEIR ACTUAL COSTS,
AND WAYS TO SAVE ON EACH OPTION.
If you search online for a diabetes medication chart, you’ll find plenty of options, from American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines to hospital formularies and medical study references. While these resources are generally reliable, they’re primarily designed for healthcare professionals and students.
For patients, understanding the wide range of available diabetes treatments can be much more difficult. People often want straightforward information about how a medication works, whether it may be appropriate for them, and how much it could cost. Because easy-to-understand charts that include medication costs can be difficult to find, we’ve put together an overview of the diabetes medications that healthcare providers may prescribe.
What are the main types of diabetes medications?
Diabetes medications are divided into several drug classes, with each one working differently to help control blood sugar. People with Type 1 diabetes require insulin, while Type 2 diabetes may be managed with a range of medication classes
Diabetes Medications Chart
| Drug class | How it works | Common medications | How it’s taken |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biguanides | Reduce the amount of sugar released by the liver and help the body use insulin more effectively. | Metformin, metformin ER | Oral tablet, once or twice daily with food |
| Sulfonylureas | Encourage the pancreas to release more insulin. | Glipizide, glimepiride, glyburide | Oral tablet, once or twice daily |
| DPP-4 inhibitors | Increase incretin hormones such as GIP and GLP-1 to help lower blood sugar. | Januvia, Tradjenta, Onglyza, Nesina | Oral tablet, usually once daily |
| SGLT2 inhibitors | Help the kidneys remove excess sugar from the body through urine. | Jardiance, Farxiga, Invokana, Steglatro | Oral tablet, once daily |
| GLP-1 receptor agonists | Mimic GLP-1 to slow digestion, stimulate insulin release after meals, and help control appetite. | Ozempic, Trulicity, Victoza, Byetta | Usually daily or weekly injection; some semaglutide formulations are oral |
| Dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists | Mimic both GIP and GLP-1 to improve blood sugar control and support weight management. | Mounjaro | Weekly injection |
| Thiazolidinediones | Improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin and increase glucose uptake by muscles. | Actos, Avandia | Oral tablet, usually once daily |
| Meglitinides | Promote a rapid release of insulin from the pancreas. | Prandin, Starlix | Oral tablet shortly before meals |
| Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors | Slow carbohydrate digestion, helping reduce blood sugar spikes after meals. | Precose, Glyset | Oral tablet with the first bite of a meal |
| Insulin | Replaces or supplements insulin needed to move blood sugar into cells for energy. | Humalog, Novolog, Lantus, Tresiba, Afrezza | Usually injected; Afrezza is inhaled |
Pills or injections?
Most diabetes medications are available as oral tablets, including metformin, sulfonylureas, and SGLT2 inhibitors. Insulin and most GLP-1 medications are generally injected because they are proteins or peptides that can be broken down by stomach acid when swallowed. Pasted markdown
There are exceptions. Some semaglutide formulations are taken orally, and newer oral GLP-1 medications are also available. How a medication is administered ultimately depends on the specific drug and the patient’s preferences.
Where GLP-1s and dual agonists fit
GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists do more than lower blood sugar. They can slow stomach emptying, reduce appetite, and support weight loss. Some GLP-1 medications also provide cardiovascular and kidney-related benefits. Pasted markdown
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist. In clinical trials, tirzepatide produced greater reductions in A1C and body weight than semaglutide. However, these medications can cause gastrointestinal side effects, particularly when treatment begins or doses increase, and their brand-name pricing can be a major consideration.
How providers choose among diabetes medications
The choice is no longer based solely on lowering A1C. A healthcare provider may also consider cardiovascular health, kidney function, hypoglycemia risk, weight goals, side effects, and affordability.
Metformin remains a common starting option for Type 2 diabetes, but people with conditions such as heart disease, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease may be candidates for an SGLT2 inhibitor or GLP-1 medication because of their additional health benefits.
It is also common for people with diabetes to eventually need more than one medication to achieve adequate blood sugar control.
The cost gap
The medication chart itself doesn’t tell the whole story. Two drugs that both lower blood sugar can have dramatically different prices. Based on the provided July 2026 SingleCare figures:
| Drug class | Example | Retail price | SingleCare price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biguanides | Metformin, 500 mg × 60 | $127 | $5 |
| Sulfonylureas | Glimepiride, 2 mg × 30 | $23 | $6 |
| SGLT2 inhibitors | Dapagliflozin, 10 mg × 30 | $844 | $22 |
| Meglitinides | Repaglinide, 1 mg × 90 | $244 | $23 |
| Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors | Acarbose, 25 mg × 90 | $90 | $25 |
| Thiazolidinediones | Pioglitazone, 30 mg × 90 | $860 | $26 |
| Rapid-acting insulin | Insulin lispro, 10 mL vial | $156 | $26 |
| DPP-4 inhibitors | Januvia, 100 mg × 30 | $690 | $39 |
| Long-acting insulin | Lantus, 10 mL vial | $278 | $65 |
| SGLT2 inhibitors | Jardiance, 25 mg × 30 | $796 | $255 |
| GLP-1 receptor agonists | Ozempic, 2 mg/3 mL pen | $1,395 | $792 |
| Dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists | Mounjaro, 5 mg/0.5 mL × 4 pens | $1,508 | $872 |
The source notes that these prices were based on SingleCare data and can vary by pharmacy and location.
Bottom line
The “best” diabetes medication isn’t necessarily the one that lowers blood sugar the most. The better choice is one that fits the person’s health needs, effectiveness goals, side-effect tolerance, dosing preferences, and budget.
And yes—multiple diabetes medications can be used together when one medication isn’t enough to control blood sugar.
Source: SingleCare