Comparison 1. Insulin monotherapy versus insulin plus sulphonylurea.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Weight (change from baseline)	7	220	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.57 [‐2.52, 3.67]
1.1 Parallel‐group trials	2	86	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.12 [‐3.08, 5.32]
1.2 Cross‐over trials	5	134	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.08 [‐4.66, 4.50]
2 Weight (change from baseline) [kg] GIV	7		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	‐0.13 [‐0.57, 0.32]
2.1 Parallel‐group	2		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	1.12 [‐3.08, 5.32]
2.2 Cross‐over group	5		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	‐0.14 [‐0.59, 0.31]
3 HbA1c (change from baseline)	9	316	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.02 [‐1.56, ‐0.49]
3.1 Parallel‐group trials	4	150	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.25 [‐2.57, 0.06]
3.2 Cross‐over trials	5	166	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.97 [‐1.38, ‐0.56]
4 HbA1c (change from baseline) GIV	9		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	‐1.03 [‐1.58, ‐0.47]
4.1 Parallel‐group trials	4		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	‐1.25 [‐2.57, 0.06]
4.2 Cross‐over trials	5		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	‐0.97 [‐1.42, ‐0.52]
5 Fasting glucose (change from baseline)	6	205	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.28 [‐3.23, ‐1.33]
5.1 Parallel‐group trials	2	71	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.97 [‐2.56, 0.61]
5.2 Cross‐over trials	4	134	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.72 [‐3.66, ‐1.78]
6 Fasting plasma glucose (change from baseline) [mmol/L] GIV	6		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	‐2.29 [‐3.23, ‐1.35]
6.1 Parallel‐group	2		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	‐1.02 [‐2.48, 0.44]
6.2 Cross‐over group	4		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	‐2.73 [‐3.70, ‐1.75]
7 Total cholesterol (change from baseline)	5	132	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.03 [‐0.38, 0.32]
7.1 Parallel‐group trials	1	22	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.26 [‐0.49, 1.01]
7.2 Cross‐over trials	4	110	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.11 [‐0.50, 0.29]
8 Total cholesterol (change from baseline) [mmol/l] GIV	5		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	‐0.04 [‐0.17, 0.09]
8.1 Parallel‐group	1		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	0.26 [‐0.49, 1.01]
8.2 Cross‐over group	4		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	‐0.05 [‐0.18, 0.08]
9 HDL‐cholesterol (change from baseline)	4	108	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.07 [‐0.17, 0.03]
9.1 Parallel‐group trials	1	22	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐0.27, 0.27]
9.2 Cross‐over trials	3	86	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.08 [‐0.20, 0.04]
10 HDL‐Cholesterol (change from baseline mmol/L) GIV	4		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	‐0.05 [‐0.15, 0.05]
10.1 Parallel‐group	1		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐0.27, 0.27]
10.2 Cross‐over group	3		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	‐0.07 [‐0.19, 0.06]
11 Triglyceride (change from baseline) [mmol/L] GIV	5		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	0.04 [‐0.21, 0.28]
11.1 Parallel‐group	1		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	‐0.24 [‐1.37, 0.89]
11.2 Cross‐over group	4		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	0.05 [‐0.20, 0.30]
12 Triglycerides (change from baseline)	5	132	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.03 [‐0.17, 0.22]
12.1 Parallel‐group trials	1	22	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.24 [‐1.37, 0.89]
12.2 Cross‐over trials	4	110	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.03 [‐0.16, 0.23]