There are several types of diabetes medications available, which all work in different ways.
Not all diabetes treatments are suitable for everyone, so don’t be disheartened if you find yourself needing to change or stop certain medications. Your GP or healthcare team can help you find a medication that’s best for your individual needs.
Your diabetes treatment may be different depending on what type of diabetes you have. Read more about:
- Type 1 diabetes treatments
- Type 2 diabetes treatments
- Gestational diabetes treatments
- Other types of diabetes
You can find out more information on the different types of diabetes medication below:
- Insulin
- Metformin
- Sulphonylureas
- Alpha glucosidase inhibitors
- Prandial glucose regulators
- Thiazolidinediones
- GLP-1 agonists
- DPP-4 inhibitors
- SGLT2 inhibitors
- Weight loss medications
- Statins
- Blood pressure medication
Insulin
Everyone with type 1 diabetes needs to take insulin as a medication. And so do some people with type 2 diabetes, some people with gestational diabetes and some people with other types of diabetes.
Insulin helps you manage your blood sugar levels and helps prevents short-term or long-term serious health problems known as diabetes complications.
Metformin
Metformin is the most common treatment for type 2 diabetes. You might also take it if you have gestational diabetes.
Metformin is part of a drug class called biguanides.
It can be used on its own to lower blood sugar levels, or it can be taken with other diabetes medications including insulin.
Metformin works by reducing the amount of glucose - a type of sugar – that the liver releases into your body, and it helps the insulin your body makes work better.
Sulphonylureas
Sulphonylureas are a type of medication which are used for treating type 2 diabetes.
They can be taken on their own if metformin is not suitable for you, or alongside other diabetes medications when blood sugar levels aren’t in target range.
Sulphonylureas work by helping your pancreas to produce more insulin. They also help insulin to work more effectively in the body.
Alpha glucosidase inhibitors
Alpha glucosidase inhibitors are a type of medication used to treat type 2 diabetes.
There is only one drug in this class, called acarbose, which is usually taken when a healthy diet and physical activity alone have not lowered blood sugar levels.
Acarbose is sometimes taken together with other diabetes medications, such as sulphonylureas.
Alpha glucosidase inhibitors slow down the absorption of starchy foods like potatoes, bread, rice and plantain after a meal. This means your blood sugar levels won’t rise as quickly after meals.
Prandial glucose regulators
Prandial glucose regulators are a type of medication which are used for treating type 2 diabetes. They can also be called glinides, meglitinides, or meal-time glucose regulators.
Prandial glucose regulators can be taken on their own, instead of metformin, or used with metformin when blood sugar levels aren’t in target range.
Like the drug class sulphonylureas, prandial glucose regulators help your pancreas to produce more insulin, which lowers blood sugar levels. However, unlike sulphonylureas, they work very quickly but only last for a short time.
Thiazolidinediones
Thiazolidinediones are a type of medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. They can also be called glitazones.
There is only one tablet in this drug class called pioglitazone.
You might be prescribed pioglitazone if metformin is not suitable for you. Pioglitazone is sometimes taken together with other diabetes medications, like metformin or a sulphonylurea, when blood sugar levels aren’t in target range.
Thiazolidinediones help cells in your body respond better to the insulin your pancreas makes. This helps to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood and lower blood sugar levels.
GLP-1 agonists
GLP-1 agonists are a type of medication that can be used to treat type 2 diabetes. They can also be called GLP-1 analogues, GLP-1 RAs and incretin mimetics.
This type of medication works by increasing the levels of incretins – hormones – which helps the body produce more insulin when needed and reduces the amount of glucose being produced by the liver when it’s not needed. This lowers blood sugar levels.
They can be taken on their own or with other diabetes medications.
DDP-4 inhibitors
DDP-4 inhibitors are a type of medication that can be used to treat type 2 diabetes. They can also be called gliptins.
You might be prescribed treatment with a DDP-4 inhibitor on its own if metformin is not suitable for you, or with other diabetes medications when blood sugar levels aren’t in target range.
DDP-4 inhibitors work by blocking the action of the enzyme DPP-4 which destroys hormones the body makes. Incretins are naturally produced by the stomach when we eat, they help the body produce more insulin when it’s needed and reduces the amount of glucose produced by the liver when it’s not needed.
By protecting incretins from damage, DPP-4 inhibitors help your body produce more insulin which helps lower blood sugar levels.
SGLT2 inhibitors
SGLT2 inhibitors are a type of medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. They can also be called gliflozins.
You should be prescribed an SGLT2 if metformin is not suitable for you and you have chronic heart failure or heart disease. An SGLT2 should be added to your current treatment plan:
- if you develop, or you are at risk of developing heart failure
- if you have heart disease.
SGLT2 inhibitors can also be used with with other diabetes medications.
They work by increasing the amount of glucose a type of sugar, that is removed from your body through your urine, which lowers blood sugar levels.
Weight loss medications
Some people with diabetes who live with obesity or overweight might be prescribed weight loss medication.
Losing even 5% of your weight can improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and this can have a big impact on your health and reduce your risk of diabetes complications, such as heart disease and stroke.
Weight loss medications should be taken alongside a healthy diet and regular physical activity.
Statins
Statins are a medication that help you lower the bad cholesterol in your blood and protect the insides of the artery walls. You usually take them as a tablet.
Statins are often prescribed for people with diabetes because having diabetes increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Blood pressure medication
People with diabetes and high blood pressure are more at risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
You might be prescribed blood pressure medication to treat high blood pressure and reduce the risk of diabetes complications.
The most common types of blood pressure medicines are diuretics, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, antiotensin-2 receptor blockers and calcium channel blockers. You can ask your healthcare team if you want more information on these.
Your healthcare team may give you medication even if your blood pressure isn’t high and is in the target range. This is normal but you can ask your healthcare team to explain why. It’s usually because the medication itself can help protect you against diabetes complications – they especially protect your kidneys.
Is diabetes medication free on the NHS?
If you treat your diabetes with medication, you won’t need to pay for medications. In England, you'll need a prescription exemption certificate to claim your free prescription unless you're 60 or over.
More information and support
Still have more questions? Or is there anything you're not sure about your diabetes medication after reading this page? Contact our helpline on 0345 123 2399.
You can visit the NHS website for more information on diabetes medications.
