Best treatments for type 2 diabetes mellitus

Understanding type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease in which blood glucose (blood sugar) stays too high because the body does not make enough insulin or does not use insulin well, so glucose builds up in the blood instead of reaching the cells (NIDDK; MedlinePlus). It is the most common form of diabetes; the CDC states that about 90% to 95% of people with diabetes have type 2, and that about 1 in 8 Americans has diabetes. Symptoms often develop slowly over several years and can be so mild that a person may not notice them, and many people have no symptoms at first; when present, they can include increased thirst and urination, feeling tired, increased hunger, blurred vision, sores that do not heal, and numbness or tingling in the feet or hands (NIDDK; CDC). A clinician diagnoses it with blood tests: MedlinePlus notes that a fasting blood glucose of 126 mg/dL or higher (on two occasions), an A1C of 6.5% or higher, or an oral glucose tolerance test result of 200 mg/dL or higher two hours after a sugar drink confirms diabetes. Management centers on healthy eating, physical activity, weight management, checking blood glucose, and medicines when needed (NIDDK). Over time, diabetes can lead to problems affecting the heart, nerves, kidneys, eyes, and feet (NIDDK). This is general information, not medical advice; treatment decisions should be made with a qualified clinician.

Frequently asked

What treats type 2 diabetes mellitus?

Our catalog lists 33 products that may treat type 2 diabetes mellitus, based on NIH RxClass (MED-RT “may treat”) drug-classification data — not the verbatim FDA label. They're rated where FDA recall-safety data exists; the current top-rated option is tradjenta.

What is the best-rated treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus?

By our independent recall-safety rating — not an efficacy measure — tradjenta ranks highest among the products we list for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Always consult a professional.

How are these treatments ranked?

By our independent score, currently based on FDA regulatory recall-safety data (the methodology blends additional sources as they come online). See the How we rate page.

What types of drugs treat type 2 diabetes mellitus?

Treatments for type 2 diabetes mellitus span FDA drug classes including dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, insulin analog, sulfonylurea, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, glp-1 receptor agonist. Compare every option side by side, ranked by independent rating, above.

Treatment associations are derived from NIH RxClass (MED-RT “may treat”) drug-classification data — not the verbatim FDA label. This is general reference, not medical advice — always consult a licensed professional.