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Research Summary
Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™

Dulaglutide improves HbA1c more than insulin glargine in T2D

Powered by the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework

Last updated September 12, 2026

Key finding

HbA1c decreased by 18.9 mmol/mol (1.73%)

This study compared once-weekly dulaglutide with daily insulin glargine in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes, finding dulaglutide resulted in greater HbA1c reductions.

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 compared once-weekly dulaglutide with daily insulin glargine in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes, finding dulaglutide resulted in greater HbA1c reductions.

Clinical relevance

These findings are significant for clinicians treating Asian patients with type 2 diabetes, as they suggest that dulaglutide may offer a more effective and safer alternative to insulin glargine. Improved HbA1c levels can lead to better long-term health outcomes, and the reduction in weight gain and hypoglycemic events enhances the overall treatment experience for patients.

Keep in mind

The study's population was limited to Asian patients, affecting generalizability. Sample sizes for each treatment group were not specified. Long-term effects beyond 26 weeks were not assessed.

Published in

Journal Reference

Publication details and source links for this paper.

Weiqing W, Luis N, Ekaterina F, et al. Once-Weekly Dulaglutide Provides Greater Improvement in HbA1c Compared to Insulin Glargine in Asian Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism. 2018;21(2):234-243. doi:10.1111/dom.13506

View DOIView on PubMedView on PMC

Main Effects

Dulaglutide 1.5 mg reduced HbA1c by 18.9 mmol/mol (1.73%) at week 26.

Dulaglutide 0.75 mg reduced HbA1c by 14.5 mmol/mol (1.33%) at week 26.

More patients achieved HbA1c <53.0 mmol/mol with dulaglutide 1.5 mg compared to glargine (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, Insulin glargine once daily and Body weight, Gastrointestinal disorders incidence, HbA1c, and 2 more.

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.

8
Evidence pairs
8
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

8

Evidence pairs

1079

Related studies

High relevance in at least one topic

Why it is useful

  • Contributes to 8 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

Save evidence

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

Incidence of hypoglycaemia

Dulaglutide → Incidence of hypoglycaemia

Dulaglutide → Incidence of hypoglycaemia

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 Tracker

Percentage of patients with HbA1c < 7%

Dulaglutide → Percentage of patients with HbA1c < 7%

Dulaglutide → Percentage of patients with HbA1c < 7%

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 Tracker

Body weight

Insulin glargine once daily → Body weight

Insulin glargine once daily → Body weight

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 Tracker

HbA1c

Insulin glargine once daily → HbA1c

Insulin glargine once daily → HbA1c

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 Tracker

Incidence of hypoglycaemia

Insulin glargine once daily → Incidence of hypoglycaemia

Insulin glargine once daily → Incidence of hypoglycaemia

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
25
Negative
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence Tracker

Evidence Library

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evidence suggest

Evidence Suggest

  • Dulaglutide 1.5 mg showed a significant HbA1c reduction of 18.9 mmol/mol.
  • More patients on dulaglutide achieved HbA1c targets compared to insulin glargine.
  • Dulaglutide was associated with weight loss and lower hypoglycemia rates.
who this applies

Who this applies to

  • Asian patients aged 18 and older with type 2 diabetes.
  • Patients seeking alternatives to daily insulin therapy.
keep in mind

Keep in Mind

  • Results may not apply to non-Asian populations.
  • The study duration was limited to 26 weeks.
  • Further research is needed to evaluate long-term safety and efficacy.
between the lines

Between the Lines

  • The study's population was limited to Asian patients, affecting generalizability.
  • Sample sizes for each treatment group were not specified.
  • Long-term effects beyond 26 weeks were not assessed.

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.

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

Do GLP-1 Receptor Agonists affect hypoglycemia?

Strong Evidence

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists may affect hypoglycemia.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Incidence of hypoglycaemia

    EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 14 supporting studies with consistent results and a positive effect signal.

14 supporting studies
View Full Evidence
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Next steps

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Evidence topics

Follow the topics this study contributes to.

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

Explore in Evidence Explorer

Open broader Evidence Explorer views for this relationship.

All studies on Dulaglutide and HbA1cAll studies on Insulin glargine once daily and HbA1cAll studies on Dulaglutide and Body weightAll studies on Dulaglutide and Gastrointestinal disorders incidence

Related research

Read related research summaries.

Switching 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.Dulaglutide may improve weight loss in obese patients with diabetes

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