Closing
Does insulin improve body weight & composition 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
Unlikely. So far, the results disagree.
NoUnsureYes
- Belief
- 0.12 (range 0.00–0.55)
- Trials for
- 1
- Trials against
- 7
- Inconclusive
- 1
Already under way
- 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
- Efficacy and Safety of iGlarLixi Versus Standard of Care in a Real-world Adult China Population With Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes on Oral Agents-a Pragmatic…NCT07307235 · recruiting · started 2025
- DECIDE: A Comparative Effectiveness Trial of Oral Metformin Versus Injectable Insulin for the Treatment of Gestational DiabetesNCT06445946 · recruiting · started 2024
The evidence so far
- Registered trials
- 148
- With posted results
- 78
- Published papers
- 13
Of 35 decided analyses: 2 favor insulin, 1 find no difference, 32 favor the comparator.
Papers
- Continuing metformin when starting insulin in patients with Type 2 diabetes: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.Trial report · 2005
- Effects of different insulin sensitisers in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Meta-analysis / systematic review · 2024
- IDeglira vs insulin degludec for type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Meta-analysis / systematic review · 2025
- The efficacy and safety of dual GIP/GLP1 receptor agonists (tirzepatide) in diabetes and obesity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Meta-analysis / systematic review · 2026
- Improved insulin sensitivity and body composition, irrespective of macronutrient intake, after a 12 month intervention in adolescents with pre-diabetes; RESIST a randomised control trial.Trial report · 2014
- A randomized trial of adding insulin glargine vs. avoidance of insulin in people with Type 2 diabetes on either no oral glucose-lowering agents or submaximal doses of metformin and/or sulphonylureas. The Canadian INSIGHT (Implementing New Strategies with Insulin Glargine for Hyperglycaemia TreatmentTrial report · 2006
Trials
- 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 · 9 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 · 6 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 · 6 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 · 6 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 · 3 posted results
- Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes (LEAD-5): Effect on Glycaemic Control After Once Daily Administration of Liraglutide in Combination With Glimepiride and Metformin Versus Glimepiride and Metformin Combination Therapy, and Versus Insulin Glargine Added to Glimepiride and Metformin Combination Therapy in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes.A Six-month Randomised, Double-blind, Parallel-group, Multi-centre, Multi-national Trial With an Open-label Treat-to-target Insulin Glargine Control Arm.NCT00331851 · 2 posted results
- A Randomized, Open-label, Active-controlled, 3-arm Parallel-group, 26-week Study Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Lixisenatide to That of Insulin Glulisine Once Daily and Insulin Glulisine Three Times Daily in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Insufficiently Controlled With Insulin Glargine With or Without MetforminNCT01768559 · 5 posted results
- A 24-week International, Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label, Active-Controlled, Parallel Group, Phase 3b Trial With a 28-week Extension to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Saxagliptin Co-administered With Dapagliflozin Compared to Insulin Glargine in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes Who Have Inadequate Glycemic Control on Metformin With or Without Sulfonylurea TherapyNCT02551874 · 1 posted result