Why is Tresiba so hard to find? [Explained for 2026]

If you've gone to the pharmacy recently and been told that Tresiba — the brand name for insulin degludec — is out of stock or on backorder, you're not alone. Thousands of patients across the United States have struggled to fill their Tresiba prescriptions in 2025 and into 2026. For people with diabetes who depend on basal insulin every single day, this shortage isn't just an inconvenience — it's a genuine health crisis.

In this article, we'll break down exactly why Tresiba is so hard to find, what's driving the shortage, and what you can do right now to get your medication.

What Is Tresiba and Why Do Patients Depend on It?

Tresiba (insulin degludec) is an ultra-long-acting basal insulin analog manufactured by Novo Nordisk. It was FDA-approved in September 2015 and is indicated for adults and children aged 1 year and older with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus. What makes Tresiba unique among long-acting insulins is its duration of action — over 42 hours — compared to 18 to 26 hours for alternatives like insulin glargine (Lantus) or insulin detemir (Levemir).

Because Tresiba has no pronounced activity peak, it provides a remarkably flat and stable glucose-lowering profile. This dramatically reduces the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia (dangerous low blood sugar at night) compared to many other basal insulins. For patients who have struggled with unpredictable nighttime lows on other insulins, Tresiba can be life-changing — which is exactly why running out of it is so distressing.

Is Tresiba Currently in Shortage?

Yes. As of early 2026, Tresiba remains in intermittent short supply at many retail pharmacies across the United States. The shortage primarily affects the Tresiba FlexTouch U-200 formulation, though U-100 pens and vials have also experienced periodic stockouts. Novo Nordisk, the sole manufacturer, has acknowledged supply constraints and stated that production is being ramped up. Supply is gradually improving but has not fully normalized.

Why Is Tresiba So Hard to Find? The Root Causes

Several factors have converged to make Tresiba consistently hard to find:

1. Only One Manufacturer

Unlike insulin glargine, which has multiple biosimilars (Semglee, Basaglar, Rezvoglar) manufactured by different companies, there is currently no generic or biosimilar version of insulin degludec available in the United States. Tresiba is the only option, and there's no alternative manufacturer to pick up the slack when supply runs low. Every single unit of insulin degludec in the US comes from Novo Nordisk.

2. Surging Demand After the $35 Insulin Cap

The Inflation Reduction Act capped insulin costs at $35 per month for Medicare Part D enrollees, effective January 2025. While this is a tremendous win for patients, it also led to a sudden surge in insulin utilization. Patients who had previously been rationing their insulin or skipping doses due to cost were now able to fill prescriptions they couldn't afford before. This demand spike hit Tresiba hard — and manufacturing capacity couldn't keep up overnight.

3. Formulary Shifts Creating Demand Spikes

As insurance plans shift their preferred insulin formularies — sometimes adding Tresiba as a preferred brand — pharmacies see sudden spikes in demand that their inventory wasn't prepared for. A formulary change at a large insurer can instantly create shortages at retail pharmacies in affected regions. With the discontinuation of Levemir and shortages of other basal insulins, more patients have been redirected to Tresiba.

4. Manufacturing Complexity

Insulin analogs like Tresiba are biologic medications — they are produced through complex biological manufacturing processes that can't simply be scaled up overnight. Insulin manufacturing requires specialized equipment, sterile facilities, and extensive quality control processes. Adding new production capacity takes years of planning and investment. Even as Novo Nordisk works to ramp up production, supply chain disruptions can cause delays at any point in the process.

5. Regional Inventory Imbalances

Even when the overall supply is sufficient nationally, Tresiba can be impossible to find in some areas while well-stocked in others. Retail pharmacies don't share inventory with each other, and distributors allocate stock unevenly. Stock levels vary dramatically from pharmacy to pharmacy, even within the same city. This is why calling one Walgreens and being told it's out of stock doesn't mean every pharmacy in your area is out.

What Can You Do Right Now to Find Tresiba?

Don't give up — here are practical steps to take today:

Use medfinder to quickly check which pharmacies near you have Tresiba in stock — it checks multiple locations at once and saves you hours of calling.

Ask for both concentrations: Request Tresiba U-100 and U-200 — one may be available even if the other isn't. Both contain the same insulin.

Try independent pharmacies: Chain pharmacies all order from the same distributors, but independent pharmacies sometimes use different suppliers and may have stock when chains don't.

Check mail-order pharmacies: Mail-order and specialty pharmacies often have better supply chains for medications experiencing retail shortages.

Contact NovoCare: Call Novo Nordisk's patient support line at 1-888-668-6444 — they can sometimes help locate pharmacies with stock.

Expand your search radius: Pharmacies 15-20 miles away may have completely different stock levels — especially near city or county boundaries.

What If You Absolutely Cannot Find Tresiba?

Never skip your basal insulin. Contact your doctor immediately. If Tresiba is completely unavailable in your area, your doctor may recommend a temporary switch to another long-acting basal insulin such as Insulin Glargine (Lantus, Basaglar, Toujeo) or, when available, Insulin Detemir. These are effective alternatives that can keep your blood sugar controlled while you work to find Tresiba. See our complete guide to Tresiba alternatives if you can't fill your prescription.

Important: Switching between basal insulins is not a simple 1:1 swap in all cases. Always consult your doctor before making any changes to your insulin regimen. Your doctor will help you determine the right dose and monitor your blood sugar during the transition.

When Will the Tresiba Shortage End?

Novo Nordisk has publicly committed to expanding insulin manufacturing capacity. Supply is expected to gradually improve throughout 2026 as new production capacity comes online. However, intermittent local shortages may continue, especially for the U-200 formulation. There is no firm end date for the shortage. The best strategy is to stay proactive: check availability regularly, keep your doctor informed, and have a contingency plan if Tresiba becomes unavailable in your area.

How medfinder Can Help

Finding Tresiba during a shortage requires calling dozens of pharmacies — a time-consuming and frustrating process. medfinder does this work for you. You provide your medication, dosage, and zip code, and medfinder calls pharmacies on your behalf to find which ones can fill your prescription — then texts you the results. If Tresiba is hard to find in your area, medfinder is one of the fastest ways to locate it.

For more tips on tracking down Tresiba, see our guide: How to Find Tresiba in Stock Near You (Tools + Tips).