Trulicity for Type 1 Diabetes: Evidence, Eligibility
Trulicity is not FDA approved for type 1 diabetes. It is approved for type 2 diabetes and heart risk.
- For type 1 diabetes
- Not an approved use
- Active ingredient
- dulaglutide
- How it is taken
- weekly injection
A quick look at Trulicity
Its half-life is about 5 days. After 5 d, half is gone, and about 3% remains after five half-lives (25 d).
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Who qualifies?
| Source | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Used with diet and exercise, the medicine lowers blood sugar for adults and children with type 2 diabetes who are 10 and older. |
| FDA label | It reduces the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or heart-related death in adults with type 2 diabetes and either heart disease or several heart risk factors. |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
What is different for type 1 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 use insulin or a sulfonylurea with it. The doses may need to be lowered. |
| Taken with insulin or sulfonylureas | Using it alongside insulin or a sulfonylurea, such as glipizide or glimepiride, raises your risk of low blood sugar. Your doctor may reduce those doses. |
The points below come from FDA labels: FDA (DailyMed).
These warnings come from the label: FDA label on DailyMed.
Coverage for type 1 diabetes
- Trulicity Coupon and Savings Card
- Trulicity Price
- Trulicity Cost Without Insurance
- 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 type 1 diabetes
| Medicine | For type 1 diabetes | How it is taken |
|---|---|---|
| Trulicity | Not an approved use | weekly injection |
 Ozempic | Not an approved use | weekly injection |
 Wegovy | Not an approved use | weekly injection or daily tablet |
 Rybelsus | Not an approved use | daily tablet |
 Mounjaro | Not an approved use | weekly injection |
 Zepbound | Not an approved use | weekly injection |
 Foundayo | Not an approved use | daily tablet |
 Saxenda | Not an approved use | daily injection |
 Victoza | Not an approved use | daily injection |
| Byetta | Not an approved use | twice-daily injection |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Questions to ask your prescriber
- The label does not list type 1 diabetes, so why would you prescribe this?
- When I take insulin, how will we handle low blood sugar?
- If a use is off-label, will my plan cover the cost?
Go to Trulicity on DailyMed and read the full prescribing information.