In overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes on basal insulin, liraglutide 3.0 mg administered once daily for 56 weeks reduces HbA1c by 1.1% from baseline, compared to a 0.6% reduction with placebo, resulting in an estimated treatment difference of -0.5% (p < 0.0001), despite lower doses of basal insulin in the liraglutide group.

Liraglutide acts like a natural hormone called GLP-1. It tells the brain that the stomach is full and slows down food digestion, so people eat less and absorb sugar more slowly. This leads to weight loss. Liraglutide also makes the pancreas release more insulin when blood sugar is high and reduces the release of glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar. Together, weight loss and better insulin action lower average blood sugar (HbA1c) even when patients take less insulin.