Resumen de Investigación
Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™

Metformin may improve glycemic control in youth with type 1 diabetes

Última actualización 18 de julio de 2026

Key finding

The between-treatment differences in HbA1c of 0.4% was not significant (p = 0.903).

This study evaluated the impact of adjunctive metformin therapy on glycemic control in overweight/obese youth with type 1 diabetes, finding no significant differences in key outcomes.

Quick read

Study at a glance

The essential study design details in one scan.

EvidenceScore™

Moderate

Study type

RCTs

Follow-up

Extended (5–20+ y)

Risk of bias

Some Concerns

Guarda investigacion, organiza estudios y vuelve a encontrar evidencia importante rapidamente.

Plain-language summary

What this paper says

A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.

Study focus

This study evaluated the impact of adjunctive metformin therapy on glycemic control in overweight/obese youth with type 1 diabetes, finding no significant differences in key outcomes.

Clinical relevance

Understanding the effectiveness of adjunctive therapies like metformin is crucial for managing type 1 diabetes in youth, especially those who are overweight or obese. These findings suggest that metformin may not provide additional benefits in glycemic control for this population, guiding clinicians in treatment decisions and patient management.

Keep in mind

Small sample size may limit generalizability Short duration of the study may not capture long-term effects Potential unmeasured confounders affecting outcomes

Published in

Referencia de la Revista

Publication details and source links for this paper.

Benjamin UN, Louise M, Karen C, et al. Adjunctive Metformin Therapy Improves Glycemic Control in Overweight/Obese Youth with Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial. PLOS ONE. 2015;10(9):e0137525. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0137525

Efectos Principales

No significant change in HbA1c (0.4%, p = 0.903)

Non-significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose (-18.9 mg/dL, p = 0.927)

No significant change in total daily dose of insulin (p = 0.936)

Evidence network

How this study fits

Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.

Evidence Context

This study contributes evidence to Metformin and Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG), HbA1c, Total daily insulin dose.

Primary intervention

Metformin

Primary outcomes

  • Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)
  • HbA1c
  • Total daily insulin dose

Evidence relationships

Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.

3
Evidence pairs
3
Relationships
4
Evidence topics
contributes_evidence

Editorial context

Why this study matters

See why this paper is useful beyond its individual results.

Evidence network role

This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.

Moderate contributionModerate confidenceNetwork score: 68

4

Related topics

3

Evidence pairs

720

Related studies

High relevance in at least one topic

Why it is useful

  • Contributes to 3 evidence relationships
  • Includes primary outcome data
  • Linked to 4 direct semantic evidence topics

Topic contributions

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Agrega evidencia relacionada a tu Evidence Tracker

Guarda estudios y paginas de evidencia, organiza tu Evidence Tracker y manten en un solo lugar la investigacion que te importa.

Evidencia principal

Relación de evidencia

Metformin Therapies and Fasting Glucose

Evidencia relacionada

Relación de evidencia

Metformin Therapies and HbA1c

Guardar evidencia

Relación de evidencia

Metformin Therapies and Insulin Resistance

Guardar evidencia

Core evidence

Study findings

The primary outcomes reported in this study.

Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Metformin → Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Metformin → Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
83
Strong
ImpactScore™
90
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
80
consistent
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 5 estudios
Add to Evidence Tracker

HbA1c

Metformin → HbA1c

Metformin → HbA1c

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
85
Strong
ImpactScore™
82
Positive
ConsistencyScore™
67
generally_consistent
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 11 estudios
Add to Evidence Tracker

Total daily insulin dose

Metformin → Total daily insulin dose

Metformin → Total daily insulin dose

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Strong
Score 79 · Based on 3 studies
ImpactScore™
67
Slightly Positive
ConsistencyScore™
67
generally_consistent
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 3 estudios
Add to Evidence Tracker

Evidence Library

Build your evidence library

Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.

evidence suggest

La Evidencia Sugiere

  • HbA1c differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.903)
  • Fasting plasma glucose showed no significant reductions (p = 0.927)
  • Total daily insulin doses did not differ significantly (p = 0.936)
who this applies

A quién se aplica

  • Youth aged 10-18 with type 1 diabetes
  • Participants classified as overweight or obese
keep in mind

Tener en Cuenta

  • Results may not apply to non-overweight youth with type 1 diabetes
  • Findings are based on a specific population and may not generalize to all youth
  • Further research is needed to explore long-term effects of metformin in this group
between the lines

Entre Líneas

  • Small sample size may limit generalizability
  • Short duration of the study may not capture long-term effects
  • Potential unmeasured confounders affecting outcomes

Evidence Library

Build your evidence library

Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.

Connected Evidence

Explore related studies, evidence collections, and research questions.

Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.

This study contributes to evidence on Metformin Therapies and HbA1c, Metformin Therapies and Fasting Glucose.

Relaciones de evidencia relacionadas

Explore in Evidence Explorer

This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.

Questions answered by this study

Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.

Does Metformin Therapies improve fasting glucose?

Strong Evidence

Metformin Therapies may improve Fasting Glucose.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are generally consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

    EvidenceScore™ Strong | EvidenceScore™ 83.2 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 8 supporting studies with generally consistent results and a positive effect signal.

Limitations

  • Population details are unavailable.
8 supporting studiesUpdated: Jul 2026

Does Metformin Therapies improve HbA1c?

Strong Evidence

Metformin Therapies appears to improve HbA1c.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are generally consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    HbA1c

    EvidenceScore™ Strong | EvidenceScore™ 85.2 | moderate positive | ConsistencyScore™ Generally Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 13 supporting studies with generally consistent results and a positive effect signal.

Limitations

  • Population details are unavailable.
13 supporting studiesUpdated: Jul 2026

Does Metformin Therapies improve insulin resistance?

Strong Evidence

Metformin Therapies may improve Insulin Resistance.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are generally consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Total daily insulin dose

    EvidenceScore™ Strong | EvidenceScore™ 79.0 | weak positive | ConsistencyScore™ Generally Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 6 supporting studies with generally consistent results and a positive effect signal.

Limitations

  • Population details are unavailable.
6 supporting studiesUpdated: Jul 2026
Learn how Evidence Intelligence™ works

Next steps

Continue your research

Choose a next path through related evidence topics, Evidence Explorer views, and research summaries.

Sin anuncios. Sin rastreo.

Centrada en la evidencia, no en la publicidad.

Segura y privada

Tus datos siempre están protegidos.

Siempre al día

Se agregan nuevos estudios todos los días.