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

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:

  1. Prescriber (2003); 14 (13): 47-52.