Effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors compared to sulphonylureas for long-term glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis

Sulphonylureas (SUs) are common glucose-lowering agents used for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, their long-term effectiveness is often limited due to declining β-cell function. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors act independently of insulin, potentially providing...

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Main Authors: Zhouhong Zhan, Jialiang Wang, Nannan Shen, Xinwen Liu, Lihong Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Association of Basic Medical Sciences of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2025-07-01
Series:Biomolecules & Biomedicine
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Online Access:https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12658
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author Zhouhong Zhan
Jialiang Wang
Nannan Shen
Xinwen Liu
Lihong Wang
author_facet Zhouhong Zhan
Jialiang Wang
Nannan Shen
Xinwen Liu
Lihong Wang
author_sort Zhouhong Zhan
collection DOAJ
description Sulphonylureas (SUs) are common glucose-lowering agents used for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, their long-term effectiveness is often limited due to declining β-cell function. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors act independently of insulin, potentially providing more sustained glycemic control. Nonetheless, comparative data regarding the long-term glycemic durability of these two drug classes are limited. We performed a meta-analysis of head-to-head randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors versus SUs in patients with T2DM already receiving metformin therapy. Eligible studies reported HbA1c values at intermediate (24–28 weeks or 48–52 weeks) and final (96–104 weeks or 208 weeks) time points, with a minimum follow-up duration of 96 weeks. Pooled mean differences (MD) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. Seven comparisons from five RCTs were included in our analysis. Compared with SUs, SGLT2 inhibitors were associated with significantly smaller increases in HbA1c over time. From 24–28 weeks to 96–104 weeks, the pooled MD was −0.28% (95% CI: −0.35 to −0.20; p < 0.001; I² = 0%). From 48–52 weeks to 96–104 weeks, the MD was −0.11% (95% CI: −0.19 to −0.04; p = 0.004; I² = 0%). In longer-term analyses, SGLT2 inhibitors demonstrated sustained benefits from 52 weeks to 208 weeks (MD: −0.22%; 95% CI: −0.34 to −0.10; p < 0.001) and from 104 weeks to 208 weeks (MD: −0.12%; 95% CI: −0.25 to −0.01; p = 0.04). Overall, SGLT2 inhibitors provide superior glycemic durability compared to SUs in patients with T2DM, supporting their preferential use as a second-line therapy after metformin.
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issn 2831-0896
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language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Association of Basic Medical Sciences of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
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spelling doaj-art-e1683a674fe84f21bac66618b657a3322025-08-20T03:11:45ZengAssociation of Basic Medical Sciences of Federation of Bosnia and HerzegovinaBiomolecules & Biomedicine2831-08962831-090X2025-07-0110.17305/bb.2025.12658Effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors compared to sulphonylureas for long-term glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysisZhouhong Zhan0Jialiang Wang1Nannan Shen2Xinwen Liu3Lihong Wang4Clinical Pharmacy Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, ChinaClinical Pharmacy Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, ChinaClinical Pharmacy Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, ChinaClinical Pharmacy Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, ChinaClinical Pharmacy Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China Sulphonylureas (SUs) are common glucose-lowering agents used for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, their long-term effectiveness is often limited due to declining β-cell function. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors act independently of insulin, potentially providing more sustained glycemic control. Nonetheless, comparative data regarding the long-term glycemic durability of these two drug classes are limited. We performed a meta-analysis of head-to-head randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors versus SUs in patients with T2DM already receiving metformin therapy. Eligible studies reported HbA1c values at intermediate (24–28 weeks or 48–52 weeks) and final (96–104 weeks or 208 weeks) time points, with a minimum follow-up duration of 96 weeks. Pooled mean differences (MD) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. Seven comparisons from five RCTs were included in our analysis. Compared with SUs, SGLT2 inhibitors were associated with significantly smaller increases in HbA1c over time. From 24–28 weeks to 96–104 weeks, the pooled MD was −0.28% (95% CI: −0.35 to −0.20; p < 0.001; I² = 0%). From 48–52 weeks to 96–104 weeks, the MD was −0.11% (95% CI: −0.19 to −0.04; p = 0.004; I² = 0%). In longer-term analyses, SGLT2 inhibitors demonstrated sustained benefits from 52 weeks to 208 weeks (MD: −0.22%; 95% CI: −0.34 to −0.10; p < 0.001) and from 104 weeks to 208 weeks (MD: −0.12%; 95% CI: −0.25 to −0.01; p = 0.04). Overall, SGLT2 inhibitors provide superior glycemic durability compared to SUs in patients with T2DM, supporting their preferential use as a second-line therapy after metformin. https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12658SGLT2 inhibitorssulphonylureasglycemic durabilityHbA1cmeta-analysistype 2 diabetes mellitus
spellingShingle Zhouhong Zhan
Jialiang Wang
Nannan Shen
Xinwen Liu
Lihong Wang
Effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors compared to sulphonylureas for long-term glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis
Biomolecules & Biomedicine
SGLT2 inhibitors
sulphonylureas
glycemic durability
HbA1c
meta-analysis
type 2 diabetes mellitus
title Effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors compared to sulphonylureas for long-term glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis
title_full Effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors compared to sulphonylureas for long-term glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis
title_fullStr Effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors compared to sulphonylureas for long-term glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors compared to sulphonylureas for long-term glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis
title_short Effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors compared to sulphonylureas for long-term glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis
title_sort effectiveness of sglt2 inhibitors compared to sulphonylureas for long term glycemic control in type 2 diabetes a meta analysis
topic SGLT2 inhibitors
sulphonylureas
glycemic durability
HbA1c
meta-analysis
type 2 diabetes mellitus
url https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/12658
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AT nannanshen effectivenessofsglt2inhibitorscomparedtosulphonylureasforlongtermglycemiccontrolintype2diabetesametaanalysis
AT xinwenliu effectivenessofsglt2inhibitorscomparedtosulphonylureasforlongtermglycemiccontrolintype2diabetesametaanalysis
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