Table 1.
Anti-diabetic agents used clinically, their target organs and their mechanisms of action.
| Drugs | Organ Targeted | Mechanism | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| TZD and biguanides | Adipose tissue Skeletal muscle | ↓ Insulin resistance | [102,103,104,105,106,107] |
| TZD and biguanides | Liver | ↓ Gluconeogenesis | [55] |
| SGLT2 inhibitors | Kidney | Glucose elimination in urine | [108] |
| SU and meglitinides | Pancreas | Insulin secretagogues | [109,110] |
| GLP-1R agonists | Pancreas | Improve response to glucose | [111,112,113] |
| Pramlintide | Pancreas | ↓ Glucagon secretion | [114,115,116] |
| Pramlintide | Stomach | Delays gastric emptying | [115] |
| α-glucosidase inhibitors | Small intestine | Slows absorption of starch | [117,118] |
| DPP-4 inhibitors | Plasma | ↓ Incretin breakdown | [119,120] |
TZD = thiazolidinediones; SGLT2 = sodium–glucose transporter-2; SU = sulfonylureas. GLP-1R = glucagon-like peptide-1; DPP-4 = dipeptidyl peptidase 4.