Understanding Diabetes Medications: A Guide to Pill Types

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Diabetes Pills

There are several types of pills used to treat diabetes:

• sulfonylureas 
• biguanides 
• alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
• thiazolidinediones 
• meglitinides 
• DPP-4 inhibitors

To learn more about how to take these diabetes medications, as well as about possible side effects and potential drug interactions, click on the specific drug type on the chart below.

Sulfonylureas
brand names generic Dymelor acetohexamide Diabinese chlorpropamide Amaryl glimepiride Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL glipizide DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase glyburide Tolinase tolazamide Orinase tolbutamide 

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Biguanides
brand generic Glucovance combination drug Glucophage metformin HCl

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Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors
brand generic Precose acarbose Glyset miglitol

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Meglitinides
brand generic Prandin repaglinide  Starlix nateglinide 

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Thiazolidinediones
brand generic Actos pioglitazone HCl Avandia rosiglitazone maleate

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DPP-4 Inhibitors
brand generic Januvia sitagliptin

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Written by award-winning health writer Bobbie Hasselbring
Reviewed by Beth Seltzer, MD
Last updated June 2008