What are the generic and trade names of the medications used for type 2 diabetes, organized by drug class?

Medical Advisory BoardAll articles are reviewed for accuracy by our Medical Advisory Board
Educational purpose only • Exercise caution as content is pending human review
Article Review Status
Submitted
Under Review
Approved

Last updated: April 3, 2026 • View editorial policy

Have a follow-up question?

Our Medical A.I. is used by practicing medical doctors at top research institutions around the world. Ask any follow up question and get world-class guideline-backed answers instantly.

Ask Question

Generic and Trade Names of Type 2 Diabetes Medications by Drug Class

Biguanides

  • Generic: Metformin
  • Trade Names: Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Fortamet, Glumetza, Riomet

SGLT-2 Inhibitors (Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors)

  • Canagliflozin - Invokana
  • Empagliflozin - Jardiance
  • Dapagliflozin - Farxiga
  • Ertugliflozin - Steglatro

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists)

  • Dulaglutide - Trulicity (subcutaneous)
  • Liraglutide - Victoza (subcutaneous)
  • Semaglutide - Ozempic (subcutaneous), Rybelsus (oral)
  • Exenatide - Byetta, Bydureon (subcutaneous)

Dual GIP/GLP-1 Receptor Agonists

  • Tirzepatide - Mounjaro (subcutaneous)

DPP-4 Inhibitors (Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors)

  • Sitagliptin - Januvia
  • Saxagliptin - Onglyza
  • Linagliptin - Tradjenta
  • Alogliptin - Nesina

Sulfonylureas

  • Glipizide - Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL
  • Glyburide - DiaBeta, Glynase, Micronase
  • Glimepiride - Amaryl

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs)

  • Pioglitazone - Actos
  • Rosiglitazone - Avandia

Meglitinides

  • Repaglinide - Prandin
  • Nateglinide - Starlix

Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors

  • Acarbose - Precose
  • Miglitol - Glyset

Amylin Analogs

  • Pramlintide - SymlinPen (subcutaneous injection)

Insulins

Rapid-Acting

  • Insulin lispro - Humalog
  • Insulin aspart - NovoLog
  • Insulin glulisine - Apidra

Short-Acting

  • Regular insulin - Humulin R, Novolin R

Intermediate-Acting

  • NPH insulin - Humulin N, Novolin N

Long-Acting

  • Insulin glargine - Lantus, Basaglar, Toujeo
  • Insulin detemir - Levemir
  • Insulin degludec - Tresiba

Ultra-Long-Acting

  • Insulin degludec - Tresiba (also classified here)

The most recent guidelines 1 prioritize metformin as first-line therapy, with SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists recommended early for patients with cardiovascular or kidney disease. [@1,2,3@] The dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist tirzepatide represents the newest class with superior weight loss effects compared to traditional GLP-1 agonists 2.

Key Clinical Distinctions by Class:

Weight effects vary significantly: Tirzepatide, semaglutide, and liraglutide produce strong weight loss (>5%), while canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, ertugliflozin, and dulaglutide produce moderate loss (3.2-5%). Metformin, acarbose, empagliflozin, and exenatide produce mild loss (<3.2%) 2.

Cardiovascular and renal protection: Specific agents within SGLT-2 inhibitors (canagliflozin, empagliflozin, dapagliflozin) and GLP-1 RAs (dulaglutide, liraglutide, semaglutide) have demonstrated cardiovascular and kidney benefits in outcomes trials [@2,3@].

References

Related Questions

Can exposure to solvents such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and benzene, asbestos from brake pads, heavy metals, and diesel exhaust increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes?
What is the appropriate management for an adult with type 2 diabetes whose highest capillary blood glucose is 163 mg/dL?
A 49-year-old man with type 2 diabetes has a hemoglobin A1c of 10.4% (previously 9.9%) and is currently taking metformin 1000 mg twice daily; what is the most affordable treatment option to further lower his glucose?
What is the appropriate management for a 52-year-old female with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension, currently taking lisinopril 10 mg daily and metformin 500 mg three times daily, with an HbA1c of 8.9% and otherwise normal laboratory results?
What is the recommended pharmacologic treatment algorithm for type 2 diabetes, including first-line and subsequent agents?
What are the common precipitating symptoms for chronic cerebral aqueductal stenosis, post‑infectious aqueductal stenosis, periaqueductal/tectal tumor, and secondary aqueductal compression due to communicating hydrocephalus?
What is radial shortening and how is it measured?
How should a donkey bite wound be managed, including wound irrigation, antibiotic therapy, tetanus prophylaxis, and rabies prophylaxis?
What are the differences between n‑butyl cyanoacrylate and 2‑octyl cyanoacrylate adhesives, and is either of them the same as Dermabond (2‑octyl cyanoacrylate), given prior skin reactions to Dermabond?
In a patient taking rosuvastatin 40 mg whose total cholesterol exceeds 200 mg/dL and low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol exceeds 125 mg/dL and who needs LDL‑C below 70 mg/dL, what additional medication should be added?
What is the recommended use of patient‑controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps for managing acute vaso‑occlusive pain in adolescents and adults with sickle cell disease, including opioid choice, dosing settings, monitoring, and alternative options?

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.