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Research Summary
Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™

Dulaglutide improves glycemic control and weight in type 2 diabetes patients

Powered by the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework

Last updated September 12, 2026

Key finding

Dulaglutide 1.5 mg resulted in a HbA1c reduction of -1.54% (estimated treatment difference -0.24%, P < 0.001).

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of dulaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin, demonstrating 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

Long-Term (1–5 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 efficacy and safety of dulaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin, demonstrating significant reductions in HbA1c and body weight.

Clinical relevance

These findings are clinically significant as they suggest that dulaglutide can be an effective treatment option for patients with type 2 diabetes who struggle to achieve glycemic control on metformin alone. The weight loss associated with dulaglutide may also provide additional health benefits for these patients, potentially reducing the risk of diabetes-related complications.

Keep in mind

The study may have limited generalizability due to the specific population enrolled. Potential biases inherent in randomized controlled trials. Short duration of follow-up may not capture long-term effects.

Published in

Journal Reference

Publication details and source links for this paper.

Juan PF, Enzo B, Luis NR, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Dulaglutide in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Inadequately Controlled with Metformin. Diabetes Care. 2021;44(3):765-773. doi:10.2337/dc20-1473

View DOIView on PubMedView on PMC

Main Effects

Dulaglutide 1.5 mg reduced HbA1c by -1.54% (P < 0.001).

Dulaglutide 3.0 mg reduced HbA1c by -1.71% (P = 0.003).

Dulaglutide 4.5 mg reduced HbA1c by -1.87% (P < 0.001).

Dulaglutide 4.5 mg resulted in a weight loss of -4.6 kg (P < 0.001).

Evidence network

How this study fits

Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.

Evidence Context

This study contributes evidence to Dulaglutide and Body weight, Gastrointestinal disorders incidence, HbA1c.

This study contributes evidence to

Intervention

Dulaglutide

Outcome

Body weight

Evidence topic

HbA1c Reduction

Primary intervention

Dulaglutide

Primary outcomes

  • Body weight
  • Gastrointestinal disorders incidence
  • HbA1c

Evidence topics

HbA1c ReductionWeight LossGLP-1 Receptor Agonists

Primary intervention

Dulaglutide

Primary outcomes

Body weightGastrointestinal disorders incidenceHbA1c

Evidence relationships

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

3
Evidence pairs
3
Relationships
3
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

3

Related topics

3

Evidence pairs

1079

Related studies

High relevance in at least one topic

Why it is useful

  • Contributes to 3 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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Primary evidence

Evidence relationship

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and HbA1c

Related evidence

Evidence relationship

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Body Weight

Save evidence

Evidence relationship

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Gastrointestinal Adverse Events

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Core evidence

Study findings

The primary outcomes reported in this study.

Body weight

Dulaglutide → Body weight

Dulaglutide → Body weight

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
76
Strong
ImpactScore™
74
Positive
ConsistencyScore™
100
consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 4 studies
Add to Evidence Tracker

Gastrointestinal disorders incidence

Dulaglutide → Gastrointestinal disorders incidence

Dulaglutide → Gastrointestinal disorders incidence

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
76
Strong
ImpactScore™
50
Neutral
ConsistencyScore™
100
consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 4 studies
Add to Evidence Tracker

HbA1c

Dulaglutide → HbA1c

Dulaglutide → HbA1c

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
84
Strong
ImpactScore™
90
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
80
consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 5 studies
Add to Evidence Tracker

Evidence Library

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evidence suggest

Evidence Suggest

  • Dulaglutide 1.5 mg led to a significant HbA1c reduction of -1.54%.
  • Dulaglutide 4.5 mg resulted in a weight loss of -4.6 kg.
  • Nausea occurred in 16.4% of patients on dulaglutide 4.5 mg.
who this applies

Who this applies to

  • Adults with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on metformin.
  • Patients seeking additional treatment options for glycemic control.
keep in mind

Keep in Mind

  • Results may not apply to populations outside the study criteria.
  • Potential side effects, such as gastrointestinal issues, should be considered.
  • Further research is needed to evaluate long-term outcomes and safety.
between the lines

Between the Lines

  • The study may have limited generalizability due to the specific population enrolled.
  • Potential biases inherent in randomized controlled trials.
  • Short duration of follow-up may not capture long-term effects.

Evidence Library

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Connected Evidence

Explore related studies, evidence collections, and research questions.

Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.

Powered by the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework

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

Related evidence relationships

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™ 83.5 | 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
View Full Evidence

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™ 76.1 | 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
View Full Evidence

Do GLP-1 Receptor Agonists affect gastrointestinal adverse events?

Strong Evidence

Current evidence does not show a clear effect of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on gastrointestinal adverse events.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Gastrointestinal disorders incidence

    EvidenceScore™ Strong | EvidenceScore™ 76.1 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 12 supporting studies and existing graph evidence signals.

12 supporting studies
View Full Evidence
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Next steps

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Evidence topics

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HbA1c Reduction Evidence HubWeight Loss Evidence HubGLP-1 Receptor Agonists Evidence Hub

Explore in Evidence Explorer

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All studies on Dulaglutide and HbA1cAll studies on Dulaglutide and Body weightAll studies on Dulaglutide and Gastrointestinal disorders incidence

Related research

Read related research summaries.

Dulaglutide improves HbA1c more than insulin glargine in T2DSwitching to tirzepatide improves glycemic control and weight in type 2 diabetesCombination Therapy Reduces HbA1c and Weight in Type 2 DiabetesDietary interventions improve glycemic control in pre-diabetic patientsInsulin glargine plus metformin and glimepiride improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.

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