Ozempic and Mounjaro are two noninsulin injectables that doctors may suggest to help treat type 2 diabetes. They work in multiple ways and effectively manage type 2 diabetes without the risk of hypoglycemia.
Managing blood sugar levels can sometimes be challenging. Over time, doctors may recommend altering treatment plans and changing prescription medications.
There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body mistakenly destroys cells in the pancreas, eventually preventing your body from making insulin. With type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t use insulin well and is unable to regulate insulin levels effectively.
In addition to insulin, people living with diabetes now have more medication options to explore.
Noninsulin injectable diabetes medications
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When managing diabetes, it’s important to understand all of your options.
Type 2 diabetes treatment options are either oral medications or injectable insulin. Common oral medications include metformin (Riomet), glipizide ER (Glucotrol XL), and miglitol (Glyset).
However, these options may not work effectively for everyone, and you can now choose noninsulin injectables.
The first noninsulin injectable diabetes medication, called exenatide (Byetta), became available in 2005. Others now include:
Some of these injectables may help with weight loss and weight management, but they do not have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for this. However, Wegovy is one medication that has the same active ingredient as Ozempic and is FDA-approved for weight management.
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Noninsulin diabetes medications perform three main actions.
They lower the amount of sugar released into your bloodstream.
They slow down how quickly food leaves your stomach, preventing spikes in blood sugar, also known as blood glucose.
They prompt your pancreas to produce more insulin — a hormone that helps move sugar from your blood into your cells to make energy.
These medications can also reduce how much food you eat by increasing feelings of satiety or fullness.
How are noninsulin injectables different from oral diabetes medications?
Both medications have the same goal of lowering blood sugar, but they work differently.
Oral medications work best when combined with a balanced diet and regular exercise, and while they can lower blood sugar levels, they may not lower them enough to reach optimal levels.
Additionally, if you’ve had diabetes for more than 10 years or you’re already taking more than 20 units of insulin per day, oral medications may not work well for you. But if you’ve recently received a diabetes diagnosis or you don’t need much medication to reach optimal insulin levels, oral medications, like metformin (Riomet), may work well.
Noninjectable medications can be very effective if you have type 2 diabetes. But as with all medications, you may want to consider several things when speaking with a doctor. The table below looks at some benefits and drawbacks of injectable diabetes medications.
Pros
Cons
Low risk of hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar: When your blood sugar falls below optimal levels, it can cause serious side effects. Examples include confusion, blurred vision, and even seizures.
Stomach-related side effects: These medications may cause some side effects, including nausea and vomiting, which is typically more common when you first start this medication or when changing dosage.
Added health benefits: Although not FDA-approved for use in weight management, several of these medications may help with weight loss. Additionally, semaglutide (Ozempic) is approved for helping protect against heart attacks, stroke, and death from heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes.
Injection site reactions: As with any other injectables and shots, you may experience pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site.
Not having to take medication as often: You can take some of these injectables once or twice each day, but others, like Trulicity and Bydureon Bcise, you can inject just once each week.
Cost: Generic insulin and oral medications may be more cost-effective than noninsulin injectables.
Checking blood sugar when taking noninsulin injectables
You may not need to check your blood sugar levels often, but it will depend on your overall health, your A1C levels, and the other medications you take. A1C levels are your average blood sugar levels over a 3-month period.
As noninsulin diabetes injectables don’t often have a risk of hypoglycemia, a doctor or healthcare professional should advise you on when and how often to check your blood sugar levels.
Will I be on noninsulin diabetes injectables for life?
Diabetes management will always be tailored to your specific needs. If noninsulin injectables work well for you, a doctor or healthcare professional might suggest taking them long term. However, if the side effects become unmanageable or it becomes too costly, a healthcare team can suggest other options.
With weight management or lifestyle adaptations, you may also be able to lower your dose or come off these medications altogether.
Summary
Noninsulin injectables for managing type 2 diabetes can include drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic), dulaglutide (Trulicity), and tirzepatide (Mounjaro). Some can also have additional benefits, like helping to manage heart disease.
Managing diabetes can be challenging, but a healthcare team is there to guide you through the process and find what works best for you.
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