Trulicity for Prediabetes: Evidence, Eligibility, Coverage
Trulicity is not FDA approved for prediabetes. It is approved for type 2 diabetes and heart risk. Some doctors prescribe it when one of those uses also applies.
- Active ingredient
- dulaglutide
- How it is taken
- weekly injection
- Approved for
- Type 2 diabetes and heart risk
Trulicity in brief
Its half-life is about 5 days: after 5 d half is gone, and after five half-lives (25 d) about 3% is left.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Who qualifies?
| Who sets the rule | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| FDA label | It lowers blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, both adults and children 10 and older, when you also follow diet and exercise. |
| FDA label | In adults with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease or several heart risk factors, it lowers the chance of stroke, heart attack, or heart-related death. |
| Typical commercial plan (Aetna policy) | BMI 30 or higher |
| Typical commercial plan (Aetna policy) | BMI 27 or higher with a weight-related condition |
| Typical commercial plan (Aetna policy) | a diet and activity program comes first, and it covers 6 months |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), aetna.com.
What is different with prediabetes?
| What changes | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Hypoglycemia with insulin secretagogues or insulin used at the same time | Combining insulin or a sulfonylurea with this drug makes low blood sugar more likely, and the doses of those medicines may need to be lowered. |
| Taken with insulin or sulfonylureas | Used with insulin or a sulfonylurea, such as glipizide or glimepiride, this medicine makes low blood sugar more likely, and your doctor may lower those doses. |
Drawn from the FDA labels: DailyMed label.
Warnings from the FDA label on DailyMed.
Coverage for prediabetes
If a GLP-1 is used only for weight loss, Medicare Part D will not pay for it.
When a Medicaid program covers weight-loss GLP-1s, it usually asks for prior authorization first.
Sources: humana.com, KFF.
- Trulicity Coupon and Savings Card
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- Does Medicare Cover Trulicity? Criteria, Copay, How to Appeal
- Cheapest Way to Get Trulicity
- Is Trulicity Covered by Insurance? Criteria, Copay, Appeal
- Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Trulicity? Criteria, Copay
- Does Medicaid Cover Trulicity? Criteria, Copay, How to Appeal
Alternatives for prediabetes
| Medicine | For prediabetes | How it is taken | Trial result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trulicity | Not a listed use | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Ozempic | Not a listed use | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Wegovy | Not a listed use | weekly injection or daily tablet | 14.9% weight loss |
 Rybelsus | Not a listed use | daily tablet | Not listed |
 Mounjaro | Not a listed use | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Zepbound | Not a listed use | weekly injection | 20.9% weight loss |
 Foundayo | Not a listed use | daily tablet | 11.1% weight loss |
 Saxenda | Not a listed use | daily injection | 7.4% weight loss |
 Victoza | Not a listed use | daily injection | Not listed |
| Byetta | Not a listed use | twice-daily injection | Not listed |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Questions to ask your prescriber
- For coverage, does my prediabetes count as a weight-related condition?
- Is a weight-loss brand a better fit for me than a diabetes brand?
Read Trulicity's full prescribing information on DailyMed.