Evidence Intelligence™
- EvidenceScore™
- 79
- Strong
- ImpactScore™
- 60
- Slightly Positive
- ConsistencyScore™
- 80
- consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 5 studies
Add to Evidence TrackerResearch Summary
Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™
Adding medications improves blood sugar control in diabetes patients.
Last updated July 17, 2026
Key finding
HbA1c level decreased by -0.78 ± 0.09%
This study evaluated the effects of adding empagliflozin, pioglitazone, or glimepiride to metformin and DPP-4 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes, showing improvements in glycemic control.
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
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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 effects of adding empagliflozin, pioglitazone, or glimepiride to metformin and DPP-4 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes, showing improvements in glycemic control.
Clinical relevance
Improving glycemic control is crucial for managing type 2 diabetes and reducing the risk of complications. This study provides evidence that adding these medications can enhance treatment effectiveness, offering clinicians more options to tailor diabetes management for their patients.
Keep in mind
Sample size and population characteristics not specified Effectiveness data for some outcomes were unclear Potential confounding factors not controlled for
Published in
Journal Reference
Publication details and source links for this paper.
Yun KC, Jae‐Hyoung C, Sang‐Mo H, et al. The addition of empagliflozin, pioglitazone, or glimepiride to metformin and DPP-4 inhibitors significantly improves glycaemic control in patients with T2D. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism. 2025;27(11):6375-6385. doi:10.1111/dom.70030
Main Effects
Empagliflozin reduced HbA1c levels by -0.78 ± 0.09%
Pioglitazone decreased HbA1c levels by -0.89 ± 0.09%
Glimepiride resulted in four hypoglycemic episodes (6.56%)
Evidence network
How this study fits
Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.
Evidence Context
This study contributes evidence to Empagliflozin, Glimepiride, Pioglitazone and HbA1c, Weight change, Frequency of hypoglycemic episodes at 180 minutes.
This study contributes evidence to
Primary intervention
Empagliflozin
Primary outcomes
- HbA1c
- Weight change
- Frequency of hypoglycemic episodes at 180 minutes
Evidence topics
Primary intervention
Evidence relationships
Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.
7
Evidence pairs
7
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: 72
4
Related topics
7
Evidence pairs
410
Related studies
High relevance in at least one topic
Why it is useful
- Contributes to 7 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
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Primary evidence
Evidence relationship
SGLT2 Inhibitors and Body Weight
Related evidence
Evidence relationship
Sulfonylureas and HbA1c
Save evidence
Evidence relationship
SGLT2 Inhibitors and HbA1c
Save evidence
Core evidence
Study findings
The primary outcomes reported in this study.
Evidence Intelligence™
- EvidenceScore™
- Emerging
- Score 59 · Based on 1 study
- ImpactScore™
- 100
- Very Positive
- ConsistencyScore™
- unclear
- Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence TrackerFrequency of hypoglycemic episodes at 180 minutes
Glimepiride → Frequency of hypoglycemic episodes at 180 minutes
Glimepiride → Frequency of hypoglycemic episodes at 180 minutes
Evidence Intelligence™
- EvidenceScore™
- Emerging
- Score 59 · Based on 1 study
- ImpactScore™
- 50
- Neutral
- ConsistencyScore™
- unclear
- Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence TrackerEvidence Intelligence™
- EvidenceScore™
- Strong
- Score 79 · Based on 3 studies
- ImpactScore™
- 52
- Neutral
- ConsistencyScore™
- 67
- generally_consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 3 studies
Add to Evidence TrackerEvidence Intelligence™
- EvidenceScore™
- Emerging
- Score 59 · Based on 1 study
- ImpactScore™
- 50
- Neutral
- ConsistencyScore™
- unclear
- Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence TrackerEvidence Intelligence™
- EvidenceScore™
- Emerging
- Score 59 · Based on 1 study
- ImpactScore™
- 50
- Neutral
- ConsistencyScore™
- unclear
- Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence TrackerEvidence Intelligence™
- EvidenceScore™
- Emerging
- Score 59 · Based on 1 study
- ImpactScore™
- 50
- Neutral
- ConsistencyScore™
- unclear
- Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence TrackerEvidence Library
Build your evidence library
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Evidence Suggest
- Empagliflozin led to a decrease in HbA1c by -0.78%
- Weight decreased by -1.73 kg with pioglitazone
- Glimepiride was associated with weight gain of 1.11 kg
Who this applies to
- Adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
- Patients currently on metformin and DPP-4 inhibitors
Keep in Mind
- Results may not be generalizable to all diabetes populations
- Long-term effects of these medications were not assessed
- Weight changes varied significantly across treatment groups
Between the Lines
- Sample size and population characteristics not specified
- Effectiveness data for some outcomes were unclear
- Potential confounding factors not controlled for
Evidence Library
Build your evidence library
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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 SGLT2 Inhibitors and HbA1c, Sulfonylureas and HbA1c.
Related evidence relationships
Explore in Evidence ExplorerThis study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.
Medications
SGLT2 Inhibitors → HbA1c
Medications
Evidence Intelligence™
- EvidenceScore™
- 79
- Strong
- ImpactScore™
- 60
- Slightly Positive
- ConsistencyScore™
- 80
- consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 5 studies
View evidenceMedications
Sulfonylureas → HbA1c
Medications
Evidence Intelligence™
- EvidenceScore™
- Strong
- Score 79 · Based on 3 studies
- ImpactScore™
- 52
- Neutral
- ConsistencyScore™
- 67
- generally_consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 3 studies
View evidenceMedications
SGLT2 Inhibitors → Body Weight
Medications
Evidence Intelligence™
- EvidenceScore™
- Emerging
- Score 59 · Based on 1 study
- ImpactScore™
- 100
- Very Positive
- ConsistencyScore™
- unclear
- Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
View evidenceIncluded in these evidence collections
Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.
HbA1c Evidence Hub
All studies measuring HbA1c
5 studies
outcome_hubMeasures HbA1c as a key outcome.
SGLT2 Inhibitors Evidence Hub
All studies on SGLT2 Inhibitors
5 studies
intervention_hubContributes to SGLT2 Inhibitors evidence base.
Sulfonylureas Evidence Hub
All studies on Sulfonylureas
3 studies
intervention_hubContributes to Sulfonylureas evidence base.
Body Weight Evidence Hub
All studies measuring Body Weight
1 studies
outcome_hubMeasures Body Weight as a key outcome.
Recent Diabetes Research
Latest published studies
recency_collection
Published within the last 2 years.
Explore more in Evidence Explorer
Jump to pre-filtered views in Evidence Explorer.
All studies on Empagliflozin and HbA1c
Intervention: EmpagliflozinOutcome: HbA1c
5 results
All studies on Glimepiride and HbA1c
Intervention: GlimepirideOutcome: HbA1c
3 results
All studies on Empagliflozin
Intervention: Empagliflozin
5 results
All studies on Glimepiride
Intervention: Glimepiride
3 results
All studies measuring HbA1c
Outcome: HbA1c
5 results
Questions answered by this study
Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.
Does SGLT2 Inhibitors affect body weight?
Strong Evidence
SGLT2 Inhibitors may improve Body Weight.
ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.
Ranked evidence signals
- 1
Weight change
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on 5 supporting studies with consistent results and a positive effect signal.
Limitations
- Population details are unavailable.
Does Sulfonylureas improve HbA1c?
Strong Evidence
Sulfonylureas may improve HbA1c.
ConsistencyScore™: Results are generally consistent across studies.
Ranked evidence signals
- 1
HbA1c
EvidenceScore™ Strong | EvidenceScore™ 79.0 | neutral | 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.
Does SGLT2 Inhibitors improve HbA1c?
Strong Evidence
SGLT2 Inhibitors may improve HbA1c.
ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.
Ranked evidence signals
- 1
HbA1c
EvidenceScore™ Strong | EvidenceScore™ 79.4 | weak positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on 14 supporting studies with consistent results and a positive effect signal.
Limitations
- Population details are unavailable.
Does Sulfonylureas affect body weight?
Strong Evidence
Sulfonylureas may improve Body Weight.
ConsistencyScore™: Results are mixed and should be interpreted cautiously.
Evidence caveat: The available evidence reports mixed findings.
Ranked evidence signals
- 1
Weight change
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is cautious because the available studies report mixed findings.
Limitations
- Population details are unavailable.
Next steps
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Evidence topics
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Related research
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Empagliflozin reduces body fluid volume in type 2 diabetes patientsEmpagliflozin improves heart function in type 2 diabetes patientsEmpagliflozin and Pioglitazone improve heart function in diabetes patientsEmpagliflozin may improve nighttime blood sugar patterns in type 1 diabetesEmpagliflozin may reduce kidney disease biomarkers but shows mixed effects on albumin in early diabetes
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