• Body weight [ Time Frame: after 26 weeks of treatment ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Glycaemic control parameters (fasting plasma glucose, 7-point glucose profiles) [ Time Frame: after 26 weeks of treatment ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Beta-cell function [ Time Frame: after 26 weeks of treatment ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Safety and tolerability [ Time Frame: after 26 weeks of treatment ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

• Glycemic control parameters (fasting plasma glucose, -glucose profiles)
• body weight
• The 26 weeks double-blind period will be followed by an 18 months open label extension.
• Βeta-cell function
• Safety and tolerability.

This trial is conducted in Europe, Oceania, Africa, Asia and South America. This trial is designed to show the effect of treatment with liraglutide when adding to existing metformin therapy and to compare it with the effects of metformin monotherapy and combination therapy of metformin and glimepiride.

The 26 weeks double-blind period will be followed by an 18 months open label extension.

• Drug: liraglutide
• Drug: metformin
• Drug: glimepiride
• Drug: placebo

• Nauck M, Marre M. Adding liraglutide to oral antidiabetic drug monotherapy: efficacy and weight benefits. Postgrad Med. 2009 May;121(3):5-15.
• Sullivan SD, Alfonso-Cristancho R, Conner C, Hammer M, Blonde L. Long-term outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving glimepiride combined with liraglutide or rosiglitazone. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2009 Feb 26;8:12.
• Nauck M, Frid A, Hermansen K, Shah NS, Tankova T, Mitha IH, Zdravkovic M, Düring M, Matthews DR; LEAD-2 Study Group. Efficacy and safety comparison of liraglutide, glimepiride, and placebo, all in combination with metformin, in type 2 diabetes: the LEAD (liraglutide effect and action in diabetes)-2 study. Diabetes Care. 2009 Jan;32(1):84-90. Epub 2008 Oct 17.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and treated with OAD(s) for at least 3 months
• HbA1c: 7.0-11.0 % (both incl.) in subjects on OAD monotherapy. 7.0-10.0 % (both incl.) in subjects on OAD combination therapy
• Body Mass Index (BMI) less than or equal 40 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects treated with insulin within the last three months
• Subjects with any serious medical condition
• Females of child bearing potential who are pregnant, breast-feeding or have the intention of becoming pregnant or not using adequate contraceptive methods
• Subjects using any drug (except for OADs), which in the Investigator's opinion could interfere with the glucose level (e.g. systemic corticosteroids)