Resumen de Investigación
Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™

Semaglutide improves glycemic control and reduces weight in type 2 diabetes

Última actualización 12 de septiembre de 2026

Key finding

Mean HbA1c reduction of 1.4% (15.8 mmol/mol) with semaglutide 0.5 mg.

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of semaglutide as an add-on to basal insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes, finding significant reductions in HbA1c and body weight.

Quick read

Study at a glance

The essential study design details in one scan.

EvidenceScore™

Moderate

Study type

RCTs

Follow-up

Medium-Term (3–12 mo)

Risk of bias

Some Concerns

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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 efficacy and safety of semaglutide as an add-on to basal insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes, finding significant reductions in HbA1c and body weight.

Clinical relevance

These findings are clinically significant as they suggest that semaglutide can be an effective treatment option for managing blood sugar and weight in patients with type 2 diabetes who are already on insulin therapy. However, the increased risk of severe hypoglycemia with higher doses necessitates careful monitoring and patient education.

Keep in mind

The study did not include a diverse population, limiting generalizability. The sample size for severe hypoglycemic episodes was relatively small. Long-term effects and safety of semaglutide were not assessed.

Published in

Referencia de la Revista

Publication details and source links for this paper.

Helena WR, Ildiko L, John R, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Semaglutide as Add-On to Basal Insulin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2018;103(6):2291-2301. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-00070

Efectos Principales

Semaglutide 0.5 mg reduced HbA1c by 1.4% (15.8 mmol/mol) with p-value 0.0001.

Semaglutide 1.0 mg reduced HbA1c by 1.8% (20.2 mmol/mol) with p-value 0.0001.

Mean body weight decreased by 3.7 kg with semaglutide 0.5 mg with p-value 0.0001.

Mean body weight decreased by 6.4 kg with semaglutide 1.0 mg with p-value 0.0001.

Evidence network

How this study fits

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Evidence Context

This study contributes evidence to Semaglutide and Body weight, HbA1c.

Primary intervention

Semaglutide

Primary outcomes

  • Body weight
  • HbA1c

Primary intervention

Primary outcomes

Evidence relationships

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

2
Evidence pairs
2
Relationships
3
Evidence topics
contributes_evidence

Editorial context

Why this study matters

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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: 60

3

Related topics

2

Evidence pairs

1079

Related studies

High relevance in at least one topic

Why it is useful

  • Contributes to 2 evidence relationships
  • Includes primary outcome data
  • Linked to 3 direct semantic evidence topics

Topic contributions

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

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Evidencia principal

Relación de evidencia

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and HbA1c

Evidencia relacionada

Relación de evidencia

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Body Weight

Guardar evidencia

Tema de evidencia

HbA1c Reduction

Guardar evidencia

Core evidence

Study findings

The primary outcomes reported in this study.

Body weight

Semaglutide → Body weight

Semaglutide → Body weight

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
86
Strong
ImpactScore™
76
Positive
ConsistencyScore™
92
consistent
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 13 estudios
Add to Evidence Tracker

HbA1c

Semaglutide → HbA1c

Semaglutide → HbA1c

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
88
Strong
ImpactScore™
87
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
88
consistent
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 16 estudios
Add to Evidence Tracker

Evidence Library

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evidence suggest

La Evidencia Sugiere

  • Semaglutide 0.5 mg led to a 1.4% reduction in HbA1c.
  • Semaglutide 1.0 mg resulted in a 1.8% reduction in HbA1c.
  • Severe hypoglycemic episodes were more frequent with semaglutide 1.0 mg.
who this applies

A quién se aplica

  • Adults with type 2 diabetes currently on basal insulin therapy.
  • Patients seeking additional treatment options for blood sugar control.
keep in mind

Tener en Cuenta

  • Results may not apply to populations outside the study demographics.
  • Increased risk of hypoglycemia should be monitored closely.
  • Long-term safety data is needed to fully understand the implications.
between the lines

Entre Líneas

  • The study did not include a diverse population, limiting generalizability.
  • The sample size for severe hypoglycemic episodes was relatively small.
  • Long-term effects and safety of semaglutide were not assessed.

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Connected Evidence

Explore related studies, evidence collections, and research questions.

Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.

This study contributes to evidence on GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and HbA1c, GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Body Weight.

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™.

Do GLP-1 Receptor Agonists lower HbA1c?

Strong Evidence

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists appear to lower HbA1c.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    HbA1c

    EvidenceScore™ Strong | EvidenceScore™ 88.2 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 45 supporting studies with consistent results and a positive effect signal.

45 supporting studies

Do GLP-1 Receptor Agonists affect body weight?

Strong Evidence

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists may affect body weight.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Body weight

    EvidenceScore™ Strong | EvidenceScore™ 85.8 | moderate positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 43 supporting studies with consistent results and a positive effect signal.

43 supporting studies
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