Key takeaways
Invokana (canagliflozin) and Afrezza (insulin human) are both medications used to manage diabetes, but they work in different ways. Invokana is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor taken orally once a day to help lower blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It also reduces the risk of heart and kidney problems in these individuals. Afrezza, on the other hand, is an ultra rapid-acting insulin inhaled at the start of meals, used for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Invokana and Afrezza are only available as brand-name medications. Invokana can cause side effects like urinary tract infections and yeast infections, while Afrezza may lead to low blood sugar and cough, and is not suitable for people with lung issues like asthma. Both medications can be used with other diabetes medications, but blood sugar monitoring is recommended because of the increased risk of low blood sugar.
