Improving the quality of your diet and increasing exercise are the first way to treat pre and type 2 diabetes. If these steps are not sufficient to lower your blood sugar, your doctor will prescribe glucose-lowering medication.
Metformin is usually the first medication your doctor will prescribe, and depending on how well you manage your blood sugars, you may need additional medication. Your doctor will adjust your medication as needed.
Below are some of the glucose-lowering medications commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes. Please note that this information is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended to help you self-prescrible.
| Class | Medications in Class | Brand Name | How they work |
| Biguanides | Metformin Extended-release metformin | Metformin Glumetza | Reduces the amount of glucose the liver makes |
| SGLT2 inhibitors | Canagliflozin Dapagliflozin Empagliflozin Ertugliflozin | Invokana Farxiga Jardiance Steglatro | Stops glucose from being reabsorbed in the kidney |
| DPP-4 Inhibitors | Alogliptin Linagliptin Saxagliptin Sitagliptin | Nesina Tradjenta Onglyza Januvia | Increase the levels of two incretin proteins – GLP-1 and GIP, that block glucagon release and increase insulin secretion |
| Sulfonylureas | Glibenclamide/glyburide Glipizide Glimepiride | Glynase/Diabeta Glucotrol Amaryl | Stimulate the beta cells in the pancreas to make more insulin |
| TZDs | Pioglitazone | Actos | Lower glucose production in the liver and help insulin work better in muscle and fat cells |
| Meglitinides | Nateglinide Repaglinide | Starlix Prandin | Stimulate the beta cells in the pancreas to make more insulin |
| Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors | Acarbose | Precose | Blocks the breakdown of starches, such as rice in the intestine |
| GLP-1 Receptor Agonists | Exenatide Liraglutide Semaglutide Semaglutide (oral) | Byetta Victoza Ozempic Rybelsus | Increase the amount of incretins which reduce the amount of sugar the liver produces, increase insulin production, slow digestion and reduce appetite |
| Insulin Rapid-acting Short-acting Long-acting Ultra-long acting | Aspart | Glulisine | Lispro Human regular Degludec Determir | Glargine | NovoLog |Apidra Humulin |Novolin Tresiba Levemir | Lantus |
