Research Summary

Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™

Liraglutide improves glycaemic control in adults with T2D

Last updated July 5, 2026

Key finding

Overall change in HbA1c was -1.02% for liraglutide compared to -0.28% for placebo.

The study evaluated the addition of liraglutide to SGLT2 inhibitors and metformin in adults with type 2 diabetes, showing significant improvements in glycaemic control.

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

Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.

Plain-language summary

What this paper says

A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.

Study focus

The study evaluated the addition of liraglutide to SGLT2 inhibitors and metformin in adults with type 2 diabetes, showing significant improvements in glycaemic control.

Clinical relevance

Improving glycaemic control is crucial for managing type 2 diabetes and reducing the risk of complications. The findings suggest that liraglutide can enhance treatment efficacy when combined with standard medications, potentially leading to better health outcomes for patients.

Keep in mind

Non-randomized design may introduce bias. Sample size and diversity not specified. Some outcomes showed no significant differences.

Published in

Journal Reference

Publication details and source links for this paper.

Lawrence B, Udi F, Margit SK, Ofri M, Chethana R, Rosangela R. Liraglutide Added to SGLT2 Inhibitors and Metformin Improves Glycaemic Control in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism. 2021;23(10):2234-2241. doi:10.1111/dom.14464

View DOI View on PubMed View on PMC

Main Effects

Liraglutide reduced HbA1c by -1.02% compared to placebo (p = 0.001).

Body weight decreased by -2.92 kg with liraglutide versus -2.06 kg for placebo (p = 0.06).

Waist circumference decreased by -4.26 cm for liraglutide compared to -2.24 cm for placebo (p = 0.05).

Evidence network

How this study fits

Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.

Evidence Context

This study contributes evidence to Liraglutide and Body weight, Emergency cesarean section rate, HbA1c, and 3 more.

This study contributes evidence to

Intervention

Liraglutide

Outcome

Body weight

Evidence topic

Weight Loss

Primary intervention

Liraglutide

Primary outcomes

Body weight
Emergency cesarean section rate
HbA1c

Evidence topics

Weight Loss HbA1c Reduction GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Liraglutide

Primary intervention

Liraglutide

Primary outcomes

Body weight Emergency cesarean section rate HbA1c

Evidence relationships

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

Evidence pairs

Relationships

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

Why it is useful

Contributes to 6 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

Save studies and evidence pages, organize your personal Evidence Tracker, and keep the research you care about in one place.

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 Body Composition

Save evidence

Core evidence

Study findings

The primary outcomes reported in this study.

Body weight

Liraglutide → Body weight

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: 83; Strong
ImpactScore™: 83; Positive
ConsistencyScore™: 100; consistent

Based on 6 studies

Add to Evidence Tracker

Emergency cesarean section rate

Liraglutide → Emergency cesarean section rate

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 50; Neutral
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

HbA1c

Liraglutide → HbA1c

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Strong; Score 79 · Based on 4 studies
ImpactScore™: 69; Positive
ConsistencyScore™: 100; consistent

Based on 4 studies

Add to Evidence Tracker

Type 2 diabetes incidence

Liraglutide → Type 2 diabetes incidence

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 50; Neutral
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

Urinary tract infection rate

Liraglutide → Urinary tract infection rate

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 50; Neutral
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

Waist circumference

Liraglutide → Waist circumference

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Moderate; Score 69 · Based on 2 studies
ImpactScore™: 75; Positive
ConsistencyScore™: 100; consistent

Based on 2 studies

Add to Evidence Tracker

Evidence Library

Build your evidence library

Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.

Evidence Suggest

Liraglutide significantly lowered HbA1c by 1.02%.
Body weight reduction was greater with liraglutide (-2.92 kg).
Waist circumference decreased more with liraglutide (-4.26 cm).

Who this applies to

Adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Individuals currently on SGLT2 inhibitors and metformin.

Keep in Mind

Results may not generalize to all populations.
Further studies needed to confirm findings.
Effectiveness of liraglutide may vary among individuals.

Between the Lines

Non-randomized design may introduce bias.
Sample size and diversity not specified.
Some outcomes showed no significant differences.

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.

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

Related evidence relationships

Explore in Evidence Explorer

This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.

Medications

Detailed evidence

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists → Body Weight

Medications

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: 83; Strong
ImpactScore™: 83; Positive
ConsistencyScore™: 100; consistent

Based on 6 studies

View evidence

Medications

Detailed evidence

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists → HbA1c

Medications

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Strong; Score 79 · Based on 4 studies
ImpactScore™: 69; Positive
ConsistencyScore™: 100; consistent

Based on 4 studies

View evidence

Included in these evidence collections

Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.

Body Weight Evidence Hub

All studies measuring Body Weight

6 studies

outcome_hub

Measures Body Weight as a key outcome.

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Evidence Hub

All studies on GLP-1 Receptor Agonists

6 studies

intervention_hub

Contributes to GLP-1 Receptor Agonists evidence base.

HbA1c Evidence Hub

All studies measuring HbA1c

4 studies

outcome_hub

Measures HbA1c as a key outcome.

Explore more in Evidence Explorer

Jump to pre-filtered views in Evidence Explorer.

All studies on Liraglutide and Body weight

Intervention: LiraglutideOutcome: Body weight

6 results

All studies on Liraglutide and HbA1c

Intervention: LiraglutideOutcome: HbA1c

4 results

All studies on Liraglutide

Intervention: Liraglutide

6 results

All studies measuring Body weight

Outcome: Body weight

6 results

All studies measuring HbA1c

Outcome: HbA1c

4 results

Questions answered by this study

Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.

Does GLP-1 Receptor Agonists improve HbA1c?

Strong Evidence

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists appears to improve HbA1c.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

1
HbA1c
EvidenceScore™ Strong | EvidenceScore™ 79.0 | moderate positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 32 supporting studies with consistent results and a positive effect signal.

Limitations

Population details are unavailable.

View Full Evidence

Does GLP-1 Receptor Agonists affect body weight?

Strong Evidence

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists may improve Body Weight.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

1
Body weight
EvidenceScore™ Strong | EvidenceScore™ 82.9 | moderate positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 33 supporting studies with consistent results and a positive effect signal.

Limitations

Population details are unavailable.

View Full Evidence

Does GLP-1 Receptor Agonists improve body composition?

Strong Evidence

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists may improve Body Composition.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

1
Waist circumference
EvidenceScore™ Moderate | EvidenceScore™ 69.0 | moderate positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 7 supporting studies with consistent results and a positive effect signal.

Limitations

Population details are unavailable.

View Full Evidence

Does GLP-1 Receptor Agonists improve diabetes incidence and prevention?

Moderate Evidence

Current evidence does not show a clear benefit of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists for Diabetes Incidence and Prevention.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

1
Type 2 diabetes incidence
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a small number of supporting studies and should be interpreted cautiously.

Limitations

Only a small number of supporting studies are available.
Population details are unavailable.

View Full Evidence

Learn how Evidence Intelligence™ works

Next steps

Continue your research

Choose a next path through related evidence topics, Evidence Explorer views, and research summaries.

Evidence topics

Follow the topics this study contributes to.

Weight Loss Evidence Hub HbA1c Reduction Evidence Hub GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Evidence Hub Liraglutide Evidence Hub

Explore in Evidence Explorer

Open broader Evidence Explorer views for this relationship.

All studies on Liraglutide and HbA1c All studies on Liraglutide and Body weight All studies on Liraglutide and Waist circumference All studies on Liraglutide and Emergency cesarean section rate

Related research

Read related research summaries.

Liraglutide is well tolerated in diabetes patients undergoing hemodialysis.Liraglutide may reduce stroke recurrence in type 2 diabetes patients GLP-1RA improves metabolic outcomes in MASLD Liraglutide 3 mg pathway improves weight loss.Dietary interventions improve glycemic control in pre-diabetic patients

No ads. No tracking.

Focused on evidence, not advertising.

Secure & private

Your data is always protected.

Always up to date

New studies added every day.