Condition guide · North Carolina prescription savings
Diabetes Medication Savings in North Carolina
Last updated June 28, 2026 · Reviewed by the LowerScript editorial team · Español
Diabetes medications lower blood sugar, and some newer drugs also support weight loss and heart or kidney health. In North Carolina there is no fixed retail price — costs vary widely by pharmacy, and brand-only drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Jardiance can be very expensive. With the free LowerScript card you can compare cash prices and save up to 80%, with no insurance, sign-up or fees.
Check a medication price → Get your free card
How LowerScript helps with diabetes medications
Managing type 2 diabetes often means paying for several medications every month, and the brand-only GLP-1 drugs and insulins are where costs add up fastest. Because the same drug can cost very different amounts at two nearby pharmacies, comparing the cash price before you fill — and using a discount — can meaningfully lower your monthly spend.
Diabetes care has also been getting more expensive faster than inflation. Adjusted for inflation, the direct medical cost of diabetes rose about 7% between 2017 and 2022, and the cost of insulin rose about 24% over the same period (as of 2024, per American Diabetes Association data). For residents paying cash — the uninsured, the underinsured, or anyone whose plan doesn't cover a particular product — comparing the cash price across pharmacies with a free discount card can make a meaningful difference. LowerScript is a discount card, not insurance, and can't be combined with Medicare on the same purchase. (American Diabetes Association, 2024 data)
Diabetes in North Carolina
An estimated 13.2% of North Carolina adults have diagnosed diabetes (BRFSS via America's Health Rankings, 2024 data), above the national average of 12.0%. Diabetes medications are a recurring, often lifelong cost, which is why comparing pharmacy prices and using a discount card can add up to real savings.
Common diabetes medications
See prices and details for popular diabetes medications:
- Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy)
- Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound)
- Metformin
- Empagliflozin (Jardiance)
- Dapagliflozin (Farxiga)
- Sitagliptin (Januvia)
- Insulin glargine (Lantus)
- Insulin lispro (Humalog)
Where to use LowerScript
Your free card works at most North Carolina pharmacies, including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Harris Teeter, Publix, Food Lion and many independents. Show the card at the counter and ask the pharmacist to process it using the RxBIN, RxPCN and RxGRP.
Frequently asked questions
Which diabetes medications are most expensive in North Carolina?
The brand-only GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound) and some SGLT2 inhibitors (Jardiance, Farxiga) tend to have the highest cash prices because they have no generic yet. Comparing pharmacies and using a discount is the main way to save.
How common is diabetes in North Carolina?
An estimated 13.2% of North Carolina adults have diagnosed diabetes (BRFSS via America's Health Rankings, 2024 data), above the national average of 12.0%. Diabetes medications are a recurring, often lifelong cost, which is why comparing pharmacy prices and using a discount card can add up to real savings.
Why is insulin so expensive in North Carolina?
Insulin and other diabetes medications have risen faster than inflation — insulin costs rose about 24% between 2017 and 2022 (as of 2024, per American Diabetes Association data). Cash prices also vary widely between pharmacies, which is why comparing prices before you fill can help.
Can I save on insulin in North Carolina?
Yes. Insulin prices vary a lot by brand, biosimilar and pharmacy. Comparing the cash price of products like Lantus, Basaglar, Semglee and Humalog often reveals meaningful differences.
Can I use LowerScript for diabetes drugs with Medicare?
You can't combine it with Medicare on the same purchase, but you can pay the LowerScript cash price when it's lower than your Medicare copay. Ask the pharmacist to compare.
Is the LowerScript card free?
Yes — no membership, no sign-up and no fees.
Cost is a real barrier to staying on diabetes treatment: a national study found that about 1 in 6 non-elderly adults with diabetes skipped, delayed, or took less medication to save money,1 and people in high-deductible health plans — especially those using insulin — reported it more often.2 Comparing cash prices and using a free discount card is one practical way to keep an ongoing prescription affordable.
References
- Taha MB, Valero-Elizondo J, Yahya T, et al. Cost-Related Medication Nonadherence in Adults With Diabetes in the United States: The National Health Interview Survey 2013–2018. Diabetes Care. 2022;45(3):594–603. doi:10.2337/dc21-1757
- Rastas C, Bunker D, Gampa V, et al. Association Between High Deductible Health Plans and Cost-Related Non-adherence to Medications Among Americans with Diabetes. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2021;37(8):1910–1916. doi:10.1007/s11606-021-06937-9
This page is general information, not medical advice. Never start, stop or change a medication without talking to your prescriber. LowerScript is a discount program, not insurance.
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