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Related Concept Videos

Carbohydrate Metabolism01:36

Carbohydrate Metabolism

Carbohydrates are polymers composed of molecules containing atoms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. One gram of carbohydrate can provide four kilo-calories of energy, which makes it the most efficient instant energy source.
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in the...
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution01:25

Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution

Obesity significantly alters the pharmacokinetic processes of drug absorption and distribution, presenting unique challenges in medical treatment. The increased fat tissue and decreased lean muscle in obese individuals can significantly affect how drugs are absorbed into the body and distributed across different tissues. This alteration can lead to variances in the effectiveness and safety of medications, necessitating adjustments in dosing or drug selection for obese patients.One notable...
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion01:20

Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion

Drug metabolism, a critical process in the liver, involves two primary phases: Phase I reactions and Phase II conjugation. Obesity introduces significant alterations in this metabolic process, primarily due to fatty infiltration of the liver, leading to conditions such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This condition can modify the activities of both Phase I and II enzymes, impacting how drugs are metabolized in obese patients.Phase I metabolism sees variable effects across...
Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways01:28

Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways

Insulin action is mediated through a receptor tyrosine kinase, akin to the IGF-1 receptor. The number of receptors per cell varies significantly, from 40 on erythrocytes to 300,000 on adipocytes and hepatocytes. The insulin receptor consists of linked α/β subunit dimers, forming a heterotetramer glycoprotein with two extracellular α subunits and two β subunits spanning the membrane. The α subunits inhibit the inherent tyrosine kinase activity of the β subunits, but this inhibition is released...
Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects01:16

Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects

Insulin-replacement therapy usually includes both long-acting insulin (basal) and short-acting insulin (to cater to postprandial needs). In a diverse group of type 1 diabetes patients, the average daily insulin dose is typically 0.5-0.7 units/kg body weight. However, obese patients and pubertal adolescents may need more due to insulin resistance.
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones01:26

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones

Biguanides, particularly metformin (Glucophage), are insulin sensitizers that enhance glucose uptake, thereby reducing insulin resistance. Unlike sulfonylureas, metformin doesn't prompt insulin secretion, which helps to curb hypoglycemia risk. Metformin is beneficial in treating conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome due to its insulin-resistance reduction capability. The drug's primary action involves curtailing hepatic gluconeogenesis, a significant contributor to high blood glucose levels...

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Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

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Diurnal rhythm in endogenous glucose production is a major contributor to fasting hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes. Suprachiasmatic deficit or limit cycle behaviour?

Diabetologia·2006
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Mild acute renal failure potentiates metformin accumulation in the diabetic rat kidney without further impairment of renal function.

Diabetes & metabolism·2003
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Quantitation of basal endogenous glucose production in Type II diabetes: importance of the volume of distribution.

Diabetologia·2002
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Hepatic glucose uptake, gluconeogenesis and the regulation of glycogen synthesis.

Diabetes/metabolism research and reviews·2001
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Production and metabolic clearance of glucose under basal conditions in Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus.

Diabetologia·2001
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Insulin sensitivity and its measurement: structural commonalities among the methods.

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism·2001

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Studying the Hypothalamic Insulin Signal to Peripheral Glucose Intolerance with a Continuous Drug Infusion System into the Mouse Brain
08:32

Studying the Hypothalamic Insulin Signal to Peripheral Glucose Intolerance with a Continuous Drug Infusion System into the Mouse Brain

Published on: January 4, 2018

Inverse relationship between peripheral insulin removal and action: studies with metformin.

Z Zhang1, J Radziuk

  • 1Diabetes and Metabolism Research Unit, Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Y 4E9.

American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism
|November 10, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Metformin enhances insulin

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Pharmacology
  • Metabolic Research

Background:

  • Muscle glucose metabolism is critical for maintaining blood glucose homeostasis.
  • Insulin and metformin are key regulators of glucose uptake, but their combined effects require clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the synergistic interaction between insulin and metformin on muscle glucose metabolism.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which metformin enhances insulin's action on glucose uptake.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a perfused rat hindquarter model to measure glucose uptake, lactate, and insulin levels.
  • Administered varying concentrations of insulin with and without metformin.
  • Quantified insulin extraction by the hindquarter tissue.

More Related Videos

Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Acute Effects of Strength Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Adults
06:13

Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Acute Effects of Strength Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Adults

Published on: December 1, 2023

Assessing Insulin Clearance in Mice via In Situ Liver Perfusion
07:30

Assessing Insulin Clearance in Mice via In Situ Liver Perfusion

Published on: December 13, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Studying the Hypothalamic Insulin Signal to Peripheral Glucose Intolerance with a Continuous Drug Infusion System into the Mouse Brain
08:32

Studying the Hypothalamic Insulin Signal to Peripheral Glucose Intolerance with a Continuous Drug Infusion System into the Mouse Brain

Published on: January 4, 2018

Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Acute Effects of Strength Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Adults
06:13

Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Acute Effects of Strength Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Adults

Published on: December 1, 2023

Assessing Insulin Clearance in Mice via In Situ Liver Perfusion
07:30

Assessing Insulin Clearance in Mice via In Situ Liver Perfusion

Published on: December 13, 2024

Main Results:

  • Metformin increased perfusate insulin concentrations at identical infusion rates.
  • Metformin significantly enhanced glucose uptake (GU) in a dose-dependent manner.
  • Synergistic effects were attributed to metformin-induced reduction in insulin extraction by muscle tissue.

Conclusions:

  • Extracellular insulin concentration, not internalization, is the primary driver of insulin's action on muscle glucose uptake.
  • Metformin enhances insulin sensitivity by reducing tissue insulin extraction, increasing local insulin availability.
  • This mechanism offers a potential therapeutic target for improving insulin sensitivity in metabolic disorders.