Diabetes Medications

Medications (Medicamentos) are an important part of managing diabetes. There are a lot of different medications that are used—many times in combination—to help regulate your blood sugar and help prevent long term complications. Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health experts can help you understand which is best to manage your diabetes.

Commonly Prescribed Medicines for Diabetes

If you have diabetes, your treatment plan will likely include one or more of these prescription medications. It is important to take all medications exactly as ordered to stay healthy.

• Metformin: Commonly-prescribed oral medication that helps lower blood sugar by decreasing the amount of glucose released by the liver.
• GLP-1 agonists: Taken by injection using a prefilled dosing pen. Works by mimicking a naturally occurring protein that helps increase your own body’s insulin secretion when you eat, and slows the time it takes your stomach to feel empty.
• SGLT2 inhibitors: The newest class of medication. Pills that work by blocking sugar absorption in the kidneys, causing some sugar to leave your body in your urine and decrease your blood sugar level.
• DPP-4 inhibitors: Pills that block the enzyme DPP-4. Works by decreasing the amount of glucose released by the liver and boosts insulin production in the pancreas.
• Glitazones: Lower blood sugar by helping muscles use glucose for energy and lowering the amount of glucose released by the liver.
• Sulfonylureas: Pills that increase the amount of insulin released by the pancreas to lower blood sugar levels.
• Meglitinides: Pills that work by lowering glucose levels in the bloodstream by increasing the release of insulin from the pancreas after a meal.
• Insulin: All people with type 1 diabetes must take insulin (a hormone normally made in the pancreas). Some people with type 2 diabetes will also require insulin—taken by injection or an insulin pump—if their pancreas isn’t making enough insulin to help turn glucose into energy.