# Diabetes Drugs in Nigeria

Our October 2026 copy of the NAFDAC register holds 266 diabetes products across the 10 medicines in this guide, 137 of them with active registrations, from 106 registration holders.

- Source: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/category/diabetes/
- Drug guides in this category: 10
- Last updated: October 2026
- Supply report (October 2026 copy): https://ogbogwu.com/data/supply/diabetes/ — 137 active registrations from 51 companies

Diabetes care in Nigeria runs on metformin — decades old, reliably cheap, and the first drug almost every type 2 patient starts. Glibenclamide and glimepiride still fill many prescriptions, insulin remains essential for type 1 and advanced type 2, and the new arrivals — semaglutide (Ozempic), tirzepatide (Mounjaro), and the SGLT2 tablets like dapagliflozin — have brought both genuine medical progress and a wave of hype, scarcity, and fakes, since the same injections are in global demand for weight loss.

Sugar control is a package: the tablets work far better alongside food changes and walking than alone, and glibenclamide in particular can drop blood sugar dangerously low in older people who skip meals. Prices in this category vary wildly — from a few hundred naira for metformin to hundreds of thousands monthly for imported GLP-1 pens — so the price comparison below is worth a look before you buy.

## Diabetes drug prices in Nigeria (October 2026)

As of October 2026, diabetes medicines in Nigeria cost between ₦5,650–₦109,500 per pack depending on the drug, brand, and pack size, with live online prices sampled from Nigerian pharmacies for 6 of the 10 medicines below. The table below compares each medicine's typical range.

| Medicine | Typical price range | Online (sampled) |
|---|---|---|
| Dapagliflozin (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/dapagliflozin/) | ₦17,500–₦40,900 | ~₦18,900 |
| Empagliflozin (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/empagliflozin/) | ₦84,750–₦87,700 | ~₦86,225 |
| Glibenclamide (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/glibenclamide/) | ₦20,170 | ~₦20,170 |
| Glimepiride (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/glimepiride/) | Price varies — check with a pharmacy | — |
| Insulin (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/insulin/) | ₦21,780–₦109,500 | ~₦56,425 |
| Liraglutide (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/liraglutide/) | Price varies — check with a pharmacy | — |
| Metformin (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/metformin/) | ₦5,650–₦19,120 | ~₦11,550 (a pack of 30) |
| Semaglutide (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/semaglutide/) | Price varies — check with a pharmacy | — |
| Tirzepatide (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/tirzepatide/) | Price varies — check with a pharmacy | — |
| Vildagliptin (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/vildagliptin/) | ₦11,900–₦37,100 | ~₦30,700 |

Ranges span brands and pack sizes; online figures are medians sampled from Nigerian online pharmacies, latest October 2026. Open-market prices are often lower.

## All diabetes drug guides

- Dapagliflozin (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/dapagliflozin/): SGLT2 inhibitor; prescription only
- Empagliflozin (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/empagliflozin/): SGLT2 inhibitor; prescription only
- Glibenclamide (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/glibenclamide/): Sulfonylurea antidiabetic; prescription only; WHO essential medicine
- Glimepiride (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/glimepiride/): Second-generation sulfonylurea; prescription only
- Insulin (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/insulin/): Hormone (Insulin); prescription only; WHO essential medicine
- Liraglutide (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/liraglutide/): GLP-1 receptor agonist; prescription only
- Metformin (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/metformin/): Biguanide antidiabetic; prescription only; WHO essential medicine
- Semaglutide (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/semaglutide/): GLP-1 receptor agonist; prescription only
- Tirzepatide (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/tirzepatide/): GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist (dual); prescription only
- Vildagliptin (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/vildagliptin/): DPP-4 inhibitor (gliptin); prescription only

## Every registered brand, by medicine (October 2026 copy)

The NAFDAC Greenbook's complete brand list for each diabetes medicine — every registration holder and number, not just the well-known names.

- Metformin brands (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/metformin/brands/): 153 registrations
- Glimepiride brands (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/glimepiride/brands/): 53 registrations
- Insulin brands (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/insulin/brands/): 31 registrations
- Glibenclamide brands (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/glibenclamide/brands/): 28 registrations
- Vildagliptin brands (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/vildagliptin/brands/): 26 registrations
- Empagliflozin brands (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/empagliflozin/brands/): 7 registrations
- Dapagliflozin brands (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/dapagliflozin/brands/): 6 registrations

## Related on Ogbogwu

Conditions treated with diabetes drugs:

- Type 2 Diabetes (https://ogbogwu.com/conditions/type-2-diabetes/)
- Weight Loss & Obesity (https://ogbogwu.com/conditions/weight-loss/)

Guides:

- How to Verify if a Drug is NAFDAC-Approved: Step-by-Step Guide (https://ogbogwu.com/guides/nafdac-drug-verification/)
- How to Buy Medicines in Bulk in Nigeria (Safely) (https://ogbogwu.com/guides/how-to-buy-medicines-in-bulk-nigeria/)
- How to Register with NAFDAC as a Drug Dealer in Nigeria (2026 Guide) (https://ogbogwu.com/guides/nafdac-registration-drug-dealers/)

Related categories:

- Hypertension (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/category/hypertension/)
- Cholesterol (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/category/cholesterol/)
- Weight Management (https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/category/weight-management/)

## FAQs

### What diabetes medicines are available in Nigeria?

As of October 2026, Ogbogwu covers 10 diabetes medicines sold in Nigeria: Dapagliflozin, Empagliflozin, Glibenclamide, Glimepiride, Insulin, Liraglutide, Metformin, Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, Vildagliptin. Each has a full guide covering NAFDAC-registered brands, typical prices, dosage, side effects, and how to verify the product you're buying is genuine.

### How much do diabetes drugs cost in Nigeria?

As of October 2026, diabetes medicines in Nigeria cost between ₦5,650–₦109,500 per pack depending on the drug, brand, and pack size, with live online prices sampled from Nigerian pharmacies for 6 of the 10 medicines below. The table below compares each medicine's typical range.

### How many diabetes products are NAFDAC-registered?

Our October 2026 copy of the NAFDAC Greenbook holds 266 diabetes products matched to the medicines on this page, from 106 manufacturers — 137 currently listed as active in the Greenbook (listings can lag renewals). Each drug's "All brands" page lists every registered product with its NAFDAC number, and you can verify any number free with our NAFDAC Checker. Always confirm the number on the pack matches the registry before buying.

Verify any NAFDAC number free (no login): https://ogbogwu.com/nafdac-checker/