Research Summary
Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™

Insulin glargine plus metformin and glimepiride improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.

Last updated August 18, 2026

Key finding

HbA1C levels improved from (mean ± SD) 8.5±0.9% to 7.7±0.8%.

Insulin glargine added to metformin and glimepiride in adults with type 2 diabetes.

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

Insulin glargine added to metformin and glimepiride in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Clinical relevance

This study evaluated Insulin glargine added to metformin and glimepiride in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Keep in mind

Limitations were not clearly described in the extracted text.

Published in

Journal Reference

Publication details and source links for this paper.

Cheol-Young P, Jun GK, Suk C, et al. Comparison of Insulin Glargine with Oral Anti-Diabetic Drug Combinations in Type 2 Diabetes. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(3):e87799. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0087799

Evidence network

How this study fits

Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.

Evidence Context

This study contributes evidence to Glimepiride, Metformin, Metformin + glimepiride and Basal insulin dose, Body weight, Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG), and 2 more.

Primary intervention

Glimepiride

Primary outcomes

  • Basal insulin dose
  • Body weight
  • Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Evidence relationships

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

15
Evidence pairs
15
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

15

Evidence pairs

832

Related studies

High relevance in at least one topic

Why it is useful

  • Contributes to 15 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

Add related evidence to your Evidence Tracker

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Primary evidence

Evidence relationship

Metformin Therapies and Fasting Glucose

Related evidence

Evidence relationship

Metformin Therapies and HbA1c

Save evidence

Evidence relationship

Sulfonylureas and HbA1c

Save evidence

Core evidence

Study findings

The primary outcomes reported in this study.

Basal insulin dose

Glimepiride → Basal insulin dose

Glimepiride → Basal insulin dose

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

Body weight

Glimepiride → Body weight

Glimepiride → Body weight

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Score 69 · Based on 2 studies
ImpactScore™
38
Slightly Negative
ConsistencyScore™
35
mixed
Supporting studies: Based on 2 studies
Add to Evidence Tracker

Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Glimepiride → Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Glimepiride → Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

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

Glimepiride → HbA1c

Glimepiride → HbA1c

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Strong
Score 79 · Based on 3 studies
ImpactScore™
67
Slightly Positive
ConsistencyScore™
67
generally_consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 3 studies
Add to Evidence Tracker

Symptomatic hypoglycemia

Glimepiride → Symptomatic hypoglycemia

Glimepiride → Symptomatic hypoglycemia

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

Basal insulin dose

Metformin → Basal insulin dose

Metformin → Basal insulin dose

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

Body weight

Metformin → Body weight

Metformin → Body weight

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Strong
Score 79 · Based on 3 studies
ImpactScore™
67
Slightly Positive
ConsistencyScore™
67
generally_consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 3 studies
Add to Evidence Tracker

Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Metformin → Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Metformin → Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
84
Strong
ImpactScore™
79
Positive
ConsistencyScore™
71
generally_consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 7 studies
Add to Evidence Tracker

HbA1c

Metformin → HbA1c

Metformin → HbA1c

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
85
Strong
ImpactScore™
86
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
70
generally_consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 11 studies
Add to Evidence Tracker

Symptomatic hypoglycemia

Metformin → Symptomatic hypoglycemia

Metformin → Symptomatic hypoglycemia

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

Basal insulin dose

Metformin + glimepiride → Basal insulin dose

Metformin + glimepiride → Basal insulin dose

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

Body weight

Metformin + glimepiride → Body weight

Metformin + glimepiride → Body weight

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Score 69 · Based on 2 studies
ImpactScore™
75
Positive
ConsistencyScore™
35
mixed
Supporting studies: Based on 2 studies
Add to Evidence Tracker

Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Metformin + glimepiride → Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Metformin + glimepiride → Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

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

Metformin + glimepiride → HbA1c

Metformin + glimepiride → HbA1c

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
77
Strong
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
100
consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 3 studies
Add to Evidence Tracker

Symptomatic hypoglycemia

Metformin + glimepiride → Symptomatic hypoglycemia

Metformin + glimepiride → Symptomatic hypoglycemia

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

Evidence Library

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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.

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™.

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™ 83.9 | moderate positive | ConsistencyScore™ Generally Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 10 supporting studies with generally consistent results and a positive effect signal.

Limitations

  • Population details are unavailable.
10 supporting studiesUpdated: Aug 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™ 85.4 | strong 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: Aug 2026

Does Sulfonylureas improve HbA1c?

Strong Evidence

Sulfonylureas may improve HbA1c.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are mixed and should be interpreted cautiously.

Evidence caveat: The available evidence reports mixed findings.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    HbA1c

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

Why this answer: This answer is cautious because the available studies report mixed findings.

Limitations

  • Population details are unavailable.
6 supporting studiesUpdated: Aug 2026

Does Metformin Therapies affect body weight?

Strong Evidence

Metformin Therapies may improve Body Weight.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are generally consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Body weight

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

Why this answer: This answer is based on 5 supporting studies with generally consistent results and a positive effect signal.

Limitations

  • Population details are unavailable.
5 supporting studiesUpdated: Aug 2026
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