Key takeaways
Trulicity (dulaglutide) and Tresiba (insulin degludec) are both medications used to manage Type 2 diabetes, but they belong to different medication classes. Trulicity is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist, while Tresiba is an ultra-long-acting insulin. Trulicity is also approved to lower the risk of heart problems in adults with Type 2 diabetes who have heart disease or risk factors, whereas Tresiba is used for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Trulicity is injected once a week, while Tresiba is injected once daily. Trulicity does not have a generic version available, whereas Tresiba is available as a brand-name medication and an unbranded biologic. Common side effects of Trulicity include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, while Tresiba can cause low blood sugar, common cold symptoms, and headaches. Trulicity can interact with other diabetes medications like insulin, increasing the risk of low blood sugar, while Tresiba should not be mixed with other insulins and can interact with medications that lower potassium levels.
