What diabetes medicines cost if you have no insurance

Why diabetes medicine prices vary so much

Diabetes is a condition where the body cannot keep blood sugar in a healthy range. Many people take more than one medicine for it, and the prices of those medicines are very far apart. Some pills cost only pennies, while some newer medicines and supplies cost hundreds of dollars a month.

The biggest reason for the gap is whether a generic version is on sale. A generic is a copy of a brand-name medicine that has the same active ingredient and works the same way. When several companies sell a generic, the price usually falls. When only one company sells a medicine, the price stays high.

Some prices on this page come from NADAC, a government survey of drug costs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which is part of the federal government, collects the answers. The survey reports the average amount that pharmacies paid to buy a drug, so it is the pharmacy's cost and not your bill.

Prices we found for each medicine

Metformin is the oldest and cheapest of the group. In the survey, pharmacies paid about 1.5 cents for one 500 mg tablet. The visits and blood tests that come with a long-term medicine can cost more than the pills themselves.

Insulin is harder to price, because it comes in vials and pens, in many types. Pharmacies paid about $2.40 to $11.34 per milliliter for common vials in October 2026. Medicare caps insulin at $35 a month, but that cap is only for people with Medicare. Two makers run their own $35-a-month programs that include people without insurance, and a third sells a limited supply for $99. Programs change, so the insulin guide below explains how to ask whether one is still running.

Newer pills from the SGLT2 family, which help the kidneys remove extra sugar through urine, sit at the high end. One maker lists empagliflozin at $350 for a 30-day supply as of January 2026. The same maker offers a 30-day fill for $249 to eligible people who have no insurance.

Dapagliflozin shows how a generic changes the picture. The FDA approved the first generic on April 7, 2026, and pharmacies paid about $5.53 for 30 generic tablets. The brand-name tablets cost pharmacies about $362 for 30. The brand maker also lists $35 for 30 tablets to eligible people on its direct-purchase page, as of August 2026.

A continuous glucose monitor, often shortened to CGM, is a small sensor worn on the body that checks your blood sugar all day. One over-the-counter version for adults who do not use insulin listed $99 for one month in October 2026, or $89 a month on a subscription. Medicare allows about $273 a month for prescription sensors, but that is not a cash price.

We do not yet have a guide for the newer weekly injections for diabetes and weight. They have no generic and cost far more than the pills on this page.

Low-cost routes that work for most people

Ask your doctor whether a generic version of your medicine exists, and ask the pharmacist to fill the generic. For most people this cuts a bill more than any other step. Your doctor decides which medicine fits you, so please bring up cost at the visit.

Then call at least three pharmacies and ask each one for its cash price. The same pill can cost very different amounts from one store to the next. Our guide on how to compare prescription prices walks through what to ask.

Drug makers sometimes sell directly to people without insurance, and some give free medicine to people with low income. Their rules and dates change, so confirm the details with the maker before you count on a price.

Community health centers are clinics that get federal support and charge by income. Many have their own pharmacies, and they can often buy medicines at reduced prices through a federal program called 340B. Read our guide on community health centers to learn how to find one, or use our tool to find low-cost care near you.

Diabetes care has other costs besides the medicine. You may need regular visits, blood tests and test strips, and a cash-pay doctor with a monthly membership can cover many of those visits. You can search for a cash-pay doctor near you. Our guide on lab tests without insurance covers the A1c and other blood tests.

Each diabetes medicine guide

• The metformin cost guide covers the price of this low-cost pill and the lab tests that go with it.
• The insulin cost guide explains vial and pen prices and how maker programs and the Medicare cap work.
• The empagliflozin cost guide shows the list price, the direct program price and what pharmacies pay.
• The dapagliflozin cost guide explains the new generic and how its price compares with the brand.
• The continuous glucose monitor guide covers sensor prices, the over-the-counter option and the Medicare allowance.

For a wider look at all your prescriptions, read our guide on prescriptions without insurance.

A word about safety

Please do not stop, skip or change a diabetes medicine on your own to save money. Missing doses of insulin or other diabetes medicines can make your blood sugar rise to dangerous levels. If money is the problem, call your doctor or pharmacist before your supply runs out and say so.

In an emergency, such as confusion, fainting or trouble breathing, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Tell the staff which medicines you take. This page gives general information and is not medical advice.