Skip to content

Diabetes ManagementDiabetes Management

This category covers oral medicines that lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. They work in different ways and are often combined, alongside diet, activity and regular monitoring. The choice between classes depends on kidney and heart health, hypoglycaemia risk and how well previous treatment has worked.

Rybelsus

Semaglutide

3 · 7 · 14mg

Semaglutide 3mg, 7mg and 14mg tablets, used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A GLP-1 receptor agonist taken by mouth, not injected.

From$15.72/ tabletView

Glucophage

Metformin

500 · 850 · 1000mg

Metformin 500mg, 850mg and 1000mg tablets, film-coated and prolonged-release, used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A biguanide.

From$0.25/ tabletView

Farxiga

Dapagliflozin

5 · 10mg

Farxiga is dapagliflozin 5mg and 10mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of type 2 diabetes and chronic heart failure. An SGLT2 inhibitor.

From$0.27/ tabletView

Januvia

Sitagliptin

50 · 100mg

Sitagliptin 50mg and 100mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A DPP-4 inhibitor, so incretins last longer.

From$3.04/ tabletView

Invokana

Canagliflozin

100mg

Canagliflozin 100mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. An SGLT2 inhibitor, so glucose leaves in the urine.

From$3.90/ tabletView

Actos

Pioglitazone

15 · 30mg

Pioglitazone 15mg and 30mg tablets, used for type 2 diabetes mellitus. A thiazolidinedione acting on PPAR-gamma receptors to raise sensitivity to insulin.

From$0.49/ tabletView

Micronase

Glibenclamide

2.5 · 5mg

Micronase is glibenclamide 2.5mg and 5mg tablets for type 2 diabetes mellitus, a sulfonylurea that closes ATP-sensitive potassium channels.

From$0.36/ tabletView

Amaryl

Glimepiride

1 · 2 · 4mg

Glimepiride 1mg, 2mg and 4mg tablets, used for type 2 diabetes mellitus. A sulfonylurea that prompts insulin release from pancreatic beta cells.

From$0.69/ tabletView

Glucovance

Metformin, Glibenclamide

400/2.50 · 500/5mg

Metformin with glibenclamide as a film-coated tablet, used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A biguanide paired with a sulfonylurea.

From$0.44/ tabletView

Glucophage SR

Metformin

500mg

Glucophage SR is metformin 500mg in a prolonged-release tablet for type 2 diabetes mellitus, releasing the biguanide slowly across the day.

From$0.74/ tabletView

Glycomet

Metformin

500mg

Glycomet is metformin 500mg tablets for type 2 diabetes mellitus, cutting hepatic glucose output without prompting extra insulin release.

From$0.31/ tabletView

Glucophage XR

Metformin

1000mg

Glucophage XR is metformin at the 1000mg prolonged-release strength for type 2 diabetes mellitus, cutting glucose output from the liver.

From$1.36/ tabletView

Tradjenta

Linagliptin

5mg

Tradjenta is linagliptin 5mg film-coated tablets for type 2 diabetes mellitus, a selective DPP-4 inhibitor that spares the incretins.

From$2.34/ tabletView

Kombiglyze XR

Saxagliptin, Metformin

5/500 · 5/1000mg

Kombiglyze XR pairs saxagliptin with metformin in a prolonged-release tablet for type 2 diabetes mellitus, a DPP-4 inhibitor alongside a biguanide.

From$4.84/ tabletView

Istamet

Sitagliptin, Metformin

50/1000mg

Istamet pairs sitagliptin with metformin in a film-coated tablet for type 2 diabetes mellitus, raising incretin levels alongside a biguanide.

From$5.49/ tabletView

Vsmall

Vildagliptin

50mg

Vsmall is vildagliptin 50mg tablets for type 2 diabetes mellitus, a DPP-4 inhibitor that raises the level of incretin hormones.

From$1.62/ tabletView

Glyxambi

Linagliptin, Empagliflozin

25/5mg

Linagliptin with empagliflozin as a film-coated tablet, used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A DPP-4 inhibitor with an SGLT2 inhibitor.

From$4.90/ tabletView

Glucotrol

Glipizide

5 · 10mg

Glipizide 5mg and 10mg, as plain and prolonged-release tablets, used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A sulfonylurea taken by mouth.

From$0.27/ tabletView

Prandin

Repaglinide

0.5 · 1 · 2mg

Repaglinide 0.5mg, 1mg and 2mg tablets, used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A meglitinide taken with meals, not between them.

From$0.64/ tabletView

Precose

Acarbose

25 · 50mg

Acarbose 25mg and 50mg tablets, used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. An alpha-glucosidase inhibitor that slows starch digestion.

From$0.71/ tabletView

Glucotrol XL

Glipizide

5 · 10mg

Glucotrol XL is glipizide 5mg and 10mg in a prolonged-release tablet for type 2 diabetes mellitus. A second-generation sulfonylurea.

From$0.40/ tabletView

Jentadueto

Linagliptin, Metformin

2.5/500mg

Linagliptin with metformin as a film-coated tablet, used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A DPP-4 inhibitor paired with a biguanide.

From$1.53/ tabletView

Metaglip

Glipizide, Metformin

2.5/500 · 5/500mg

Glipizide with metformin as a tablet, used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A sulfonylurea for insulin release, a biguanide for the liver.

From$0.34/ tabletView

Key points

  • Metformin is usually the first tablet, with other classes added or substituted as control or tolerance requires.
  • The classes lower glucose by different mechanisms, so two products here are not interchangeable.
  • They differ in low-blood-sugar risk and in effects beyond glucose, including weight, heart and kidney outcomes.

Classes and ingredients in this category

Conditions it covers

These medicines are used for type 2 diabetes mellitus and related metabolic problems. Other conditions often matter as much as the glucose reading when a class is chosen, so prescribing is individual.

Further reading

Related articles