Mode of action

• 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.