mode of action
Last reviewed 03/2022
- improves insulin sensitivity by
- actions upon the liver:
- reducing hepatic gluconeogenesis and glycogen breakdown
- actions upon skeletal muscle and adipose tissue:
- increasing insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and oxidation and, in muscle, increasing glycogen formation
- actions upon the liver:
Other effects include:
- anorexia
- preventing weight gain (in the UKPDS, weight was unchanged in the long term despite an initial weight loss of 1-2kg)
- lowering of triglycerides and total cholesterol
- fibrinolysis is increased and platelet aggregation reduced
Reference:
- Prescriber (2003); 14 (13): 47-52.