An Overview of Currently Available Injectable Therapies in Diabetes: A Guide to Practitioners

The management of diabetes has seen significant advancements with the introduction of various injectable therapies. Being a common chronic disorder, it is managed by doctors across all specialties worldwide. Despite the availability of new medications, healthcare professionals continue to face ambiguity due to differing terminologies and variations in regional practices. This review aims to elucidate the current therapeutic spectrum of injectable therapies in diabetes care, providing clarity on the types, mechanisms, and clinical implications of both insulin and non-insulin injections. An extensive review of existing literature was conducted, focusing on insulin injections (including short-acting, rapid-acting, ultra-rapid acting, intermediate-acting, long acting and ultra-long-acting types), non-insulin injections (such as glucagon-like peptide-1 [GLP-1] receptor agonists, dual GLP-1 and gastric inhibitory polypeptide [GIP] agonist, and amylin analogs) and co-formulations (long-acting insulin with GLP-1 or long-acting insulin with rapid acting insulin). We have included innovators and biosimilars in this review article for better understanding. Insulin therapies offer tailored glycemic control, while non-insulin injectables provide additional benefits in weight management and reduced hypoglycemia risk. This review serves as a comprehensive guide for healthcare providers worldwide to navigate the landscape of injectable treatment options in diabetes, with a focus on optimizing therapeutic outcomes through informed decision-making.