{"id":48688,"date":"2022-02-08T16:39:21","date_gmt":"2022-02-08T21:39:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=48688"},"modified":"2025-05-13T13:12:55","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T17:12:55","slug":"is-trulicity-insulin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/is-trulicity-insulin\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Trulicity insulin?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Diabetes can be a difficult condition to manage. With many medical options available, and companies with high advertising budgets, it can be challenging to know which medication may be the best addition to a healthful diet and exercise. In this article, we will talk about Trulicity<\/a>, a non-insulin medication that can help with diabetes management.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Trulicity works\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Trulicity (dulaglutide)<\/a> can help control <\/span>blood sugar levels<\/span><\/a> in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Trulicity works by slowing down how quickly food leaves the stomach and helping the pancreas release insulin in response to high blood sugar levels after a meal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Type 2 diabetes mellitus can be <\/span>reversed with weight loss and a healthful diet<\/span><\/a>. Adults with Type 2 diabetes may use Trulicity as an addition to diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control. Trulicity is also used to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, in adults with Type 2 diabetes who have cardiovascular disease or multiple risk factors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Trulicity is not an over-the-counter medication. It is a prescription drug manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company that should only be used under the care of a healthcare provider.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Is Trulicity insulin?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Trulicity is not insulin. Trulicity is in a class of medications called <\/span>glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists<\/span><\/a>. GLP-1 agonists are medications that stimulate insulin secretion after a meal. The stomach releases its contents more slowly, the production of glucagon (the hormone that increases blood glucose levels) decreases, and the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin are better protected.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GLP-1 agonists<\/span><\/a> have also been shown to improve outcomes in people who have cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes by promoting weight loss, lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow to the heart, and improving overall cardiac function. GLP-1 agonists have also been shown to lower glucose production by the liver, protect nerve cells, and act on the part of the brain that sends hunger signals to the body.<\/span><\/p>\n

Does Trulicity replace insulin?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Trulicity is not an insulin replacement. Insulin is used in the management of both <\/span>Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a>. People with Type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin or they produce it in extremely low amounts. They are dependent on insulin injections to maintain blood glucose levels that are safe. Other types of medications, like Trulicity, cannot be used in Type 1 diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Insulin is not a first-line treatment for most individuals with Type 2 diabetes. People with Type 2 diabetes may or may not use insulin in addition to other medications and <\/span>diet and weight loss strategies<\/span><\/a> to control blood sugar.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In clinical trials for long-acting diabetes medications, it is common to compare newer medications like Trulicity to a form of long-acting insulin called insulin glargine. This comparison is not to determine if the new medication is a replacement for insulin, but instead provides a known and acceptable set of parameters to evaluate it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Trulicity is not better than insulin and insulin is not better than Trulicity. They are different classes of medications that are prescribed based on the needs of the person with diabetes. However, if there are no symptoms of hyperglycemia or very high blood glucose levels, the <\/span>American Diabetes Association<\/span><\/a> has recommended the use of a GLP-1 receptor agonist over insulin when possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Can you take Trulicity and insulin together?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Yes. Trulicity may be used with insulin if adequate glucose management is not obtained after using Trulicity with other classes of medications first. Insulin is often used early in the treatment of individuals with complications or symptoms of extremely high blood glucose levels. If insulin is used together with GLP-1 receptor agonists, there is often greater efficacy of both medications and improved treatment outcomes. If glycemic control is not adequately obtained in a relatively short period of time with GLP-1 agonists alone, the addition of insulin or other medications should not be delayed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are several <\/span>types of insulin<\/span><\/a> available. The Food and Drug Administration <\/span>(FDA) has approved Trulicity<\/span><\/a> as a treatment for those who use mealtime insulin or basal insulin. Basal insulin, which is sometimes called bedtime insulin, is long-acting and usually taken once a day. Mealtime insulin is short-acting and taken before meals. Insulin doses and schedules may need to be adjusted with Trulicity to avoid low blood glucose levels. Examples of short- and long-acting insulins include:<\/span><\/p>\n

Mealtime, short-acting insulin:<\/b><\/p>\n