Closing
Does insulin improve glycemic control more than other treatments?
Mostly studied in type 2 & unspecified diabetes. Also asked versus placebo.
Not modeled yetTrial evidence exists, but no mechanistic model yetWithout a model there is no decisive experiment to propose. Help build it. →
Where the evidence stands
Doubtful. So far, the results disagree.
NoUnsureYes
- Belief
- 0.29 (range 0.00–0.55)
- Trials for
- 6
- Trials against
- 15
- Inconclusive
- 5
Already under way
- Regimen Transition After Short-Term Intensive Insulin Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients With Inadequate Glycemic Control on Oral Hypoglycemic…NCT07173712 · not yet recruiting · started 2026
- Key Effects of Cofrogliptin on Beta-cell Function in Adults With Latent Autoimmune Diabetes (LADA): A Single-Center, Randomized, Controlled Trial - KOLA StudyNCT07460336 · not yet recruiting · started 2026
- Therapeutic Synergy of Probiotic Augmented Conventional Antidiabetic Pharmacotherapy in Gestational Diabetes MellitusNCT07645001 · recruiting · started 2026
- Normal-weight Diabetes: Adipocyte-directed Therapy With Pioglitazone or TirzepatideNCT06657209 · recruiting · started 2025
- Comparative Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Empagliflozin or Semaglutide in Overweight/Obese Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Inadequately…NCT06762314 · recruiting · started 2025
The evidence so far
- Registered trials
- 250
- With posted results
- 110
- Published papers
- 83
Of 215 decided analyses: 71 favor insulin, 69 find no difference, 75 favor the comparator.
Papers
- Effect of bromocriptine-QR therapy on glycemic control in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus whose dysglycemia is inadequately controlled on insulin.Trial report · 2017
- Addition of neutral protamine lispro insulin or insulin glargine to oral type 2 diabetes regimens for patients with suboptimal glycemic control: a randomized trial.Trial report · 2008
- A comparison of twice-daily exenatide and biphasic insulin aspart in patients with type 2 diabetes who were suboptimally controlled with sulfonylurea and metformin: a non-inferiority study.Trial report · 2007
- Statins Are Associated With Increased Insulin Resistance and Secretion.Trial report · 2021
- Twelve- and 52-week efficacy of the dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor LAF237 in metformin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes.Trial report · 2004
- Lifestyle intervention and metformin for treatment of antipsychotic-induced weight gain: a randomized controlled trial.Trial report · 2008
Trials
- The Efficacy and Safety of Once-Weekly, Subcutaneous Dulaglutide Compared to Once-Daily Insulin Glargine in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Metformin and/or a SulfonylureaNCT01648582 · 54 posted results
- A Randomized, Open-Label, Parallel-Arm, Noninferiority Comparison of the Effects of Two Doses of LY2189265 and Insulin Glargine on Glycemic Control in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes on Stable Doses of Metformin and GlimepirideNCT01075282 · 35 posted results
- A Randomized, Phase 3, Open-label Trial Comparing the Effect of Tirzepatide Once Weekly Versus Titrated Insulin Glargine on Glycemic Control in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes on Metformin With or Without a SulfonylureaNCT04093752 · 25 posted results
- A Randomized, Phase 3, Open-Label Trial Comparing the Effect of LY3298176 Versus Titrated Insulin Degludec on Glycemic Control in Patients With Type 2 DiabetesNCT03882970 · 20 posted results
- A Randomized, Phase 3, Open-label Trial Comparing the Effect of the Addition of Tirzepatide Once Weekly Versus Insulin Lispro (U100) Three Times Daily in Participants With Type 2 Diabetes Inadequately Controlled on Insulin Glargine (U100) With or Without Metformin (SURPASS-6)NCT04537923 · 19 posted results
- An Open-labelled, Randomised, Parallel Group, 3 Week run-in and 24 Week Treat-to-target Comparison of Biphasic Insulin Aspart 30 Once Daily Versus Insulin Glargine Once Daily Both in Combination With Metformin and Glimepiride in Chinese and Japanese Insulin Naive Subjects With Type 2 DiabetesNCT01123980 · 15 posted results
- Efficacy and Safety of LY3298176 Once Weekly Versus Insulin Glargine in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Increased Cardiovascular Risk (SURPASS-4)NCT03730662 · 11 posted results
- A Multi-national, Open-labelled, Randomised, Parallel Group, 4 Week run-in and 26 Weeks Treat-to-target Comparison of Biphasic Insulin Aspart 30 Once Daily Versus Insulin Glargine Once Daily Both in Combination With Metformin and Glimepiride in Insulin naïve Subjects With Type 2 DiabetesNCT00469092 · 9 posted results