By Blua Digital health by Bupa
6 minute read
Published 2 September 2026
Blua Digital health by Bupa
Blua is Bupa’s new home for digital health services like online doctor appointments and delivery of prescription items and over-the-counter goods.
By Blua Digital health by Bupa
There are several types of medication used to help manage type 2 diabetes, and each works in a different way.
Some help your body use insulin more effectively, while others manage how your body produces or absorbs glucose, slow digestion or replace insulin. Here's a guide to the key types of type 2 diabetes medication and how they work.
The most common medication prescribed to help manage type 2 diabetes in Australia is biguanides or metformin. An oral medication works to lower blood glucose (sugar) by decreasing the amount of glucose your liver produces and releases into your blood. It also helps your skeletal muscle tissue absorb glucose for energy, reducing insulin resistance.
Removing excess sugar from the body through the urine, this oral medication helps to manage blood sugar. It can also help manage kidney and heart health for people with chronic conditions.
Used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, this medication is most commonly a liquid injectable used once every week. The medication mimics a natural hormone in the body that triggers insulin release from the pancreas, blocks glucose from going into the blood, slows digestion and makes you feel full after eating.
This oral medication improves how your body uses insulin, helping to lower blood sugar. It's sometimes prescribed with other type 2 diabetes medications, such as insulin and metformin.
An oral medication that helps the pancreas make insulin and lowers blood sugar levels.
An oral medication typically taken daily, TZDs improve insulin sensitivity, which helps to lower blood glucose levels and help reduce fat stored in the liver.
Typically taken with the first bite of each meal, this oral medication slows the rate at which sugar enters your bloodstream and helps prevent blood sugar spikes after eating.
Used when other lifestyle measures and treatments aren’t enough to control blood glucose levels, insulin is prescribed to around 50% of people with type 2 diabetes within 6-10 years of diagnosis.8 Insulin is injected at points throughout the day as advised by your doctor.
All medications can cause side effects, but many people will not experience any. If you have side effects, it’s important to talk to your GP before making any changes, says Bupa GP Dr Janice Tan.
“Don't stop a medicine on your own if something bothers you,” says Dr Tan. “There are plenty of alternatives, so tell your GP and they can adjust the dose or switch you to something that suits you better.”
Bupa health insurance members can have prescriptions filled by local chemists and get them delivered to their door by registered couriers. You can also order over-the-counter goods. Delivery address must be within 8km of a participating pharmacy.
At Bupa, trust is everything
Our health and wellbeing information is regularly reviewed and maintained by a team of healthcare experts, to ensure its relevancy and accuracy. Everyone's health journey is unique and health outcomes vary from person to person.
This content is not a replacement for personalised and specific medical, healthcare, or other professional advice. If you have concerns about your health, see your doctor or other health professional.
1 Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Biguanides.
2 Cleveland Clinic. (2025). SGLT2 inhibitors.
3 Cleveland Clinic. (2023).GLP1 Agonists.
4 Cleveland Clinic. (2025). DPP-4 Inhibitors.
5 Cleveland Clinic. (2025). Sulfonylureas.
6 Cleveland Clinic. (2026). Thiazolidinediones.
7 Cleveland Clinic. (2025). Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors.
8 Better Health Channel. (2021). Diabetes and insulin. Victoria State Government.
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