Dulaglutide for Type 2 Diabetes: Evidence, Eligibility
Yes. Dulaglutide is FDA approved for type 2 diabetes: this medicine lowers blood sugar for type 2 diabetes in adults and children ages 10 and older, when used with diet and exercise. In AWARD-11, A1C fell 1.77 points on average for people on Trulicity.
- For type 2 diabetes
- FDA approved
- Active ingredient
- dulaglutide
- How it is taken
- weekly injection
- Best result (AWARD-11)
- A1C down 1.77 points
Trulicity in brief
Its half-life is about 5 days: after 5 d, half is gone, and about 3% remains after five half-lives (25 d).
This comes from the DailyMed FDA label.
Who qualifies?
| Source | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| FDA label | This medicine lowers blood sugar for type 2 diabetes in adults and children ages 10 and older, when used with diet and exercise. |
| FDA label | Adults with type 2 diabetes who take this medicine have a lower chance of a heart attack, stroke, or death linked to the heart. This applies if heart disease or several heart risk factors are present. |
This comes from the DailyMed FDA label.
What type 2 diabetes trials show
| Trial | Medicine | Who took part | Length | People | Main result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWARD-11 |  Trulicity | Adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin | 36 weeks | 1,842 | A1C down 1.77 points |
Trial sources: AWARD-11 (PubMed).
What is different for type 2 diabetes?
| What changes | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Low blood sugar when you also take insulin secretagogues or insulin | Low blood sugar is more likely when you take it with insulin or a sulfonylurea, and those doses may need to be lowered. |
| Complications of Diabetic Retinopathy When Patients Have a History of It | For people with type 2 diabetes, diabetic eye disease can get worse, and the risk is greater when blood sugar drops fast. Eye checks matter if you already have it. |
| Taken with insulin or sulfonylureas | Taking insulin or a sulfonylurea with it raises the chance of low blood sugar. Examples include glipizide or glimepiride, and your doctor may reduce those doses. |
Information from these FDA labels: DailyMed FDA label.
From the DailyMed FDA label.
Coverage for type 2 diabetes
Medicare Part D can cover these medicines when they are prescribed for diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
Sources: humana.com.
- Trulicity Coupon and Savings Card
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- Does Medicaid Cover Trulicity? Criteria, Copay, How to Appeal
Alternatives for type 2 diabetes
| Medicine | For type 2 diabetes | How it is taken | Trial result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trulicity | FDA approved | weekly injection | A1C down 1.77 points |
 Ozempic | FDA approved | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Rybelsus | FDA approved | daily tablet | Not listed |
 Mounjaro | FDA approved | weekly injection | A1C down 2.3 points |
 Victoza | FDA approved | daily injection | Not listed |
| Byetta | FDA approved | twice-daily injection | Not listed |
 Wegovy | Not an approved use | weekly injection or daily tablet | 9.6% weight loss |
 Zepbound | Not an approved use | weekly injection | 14.7% weight loss |
 Foundayo | Not an approved use | daily tablet | 9.6% weight loss |
 Saxenda | Not an approved use | daily injection | 7.4% weight loss |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), PubMed.
Questions to ask your prescriber
- Do my other diabetes medicines, especially insulin or a sulfonylurea, need to change?
- How often do I need my eyes checked?
- What is my A1C goal?
For the complete information, read the Trulicity prescribing information on DailyMed.