Fig. 3: Metformin activates AMPK in liver and muscle to improve glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes. (A) shows the ion channel in a resting pancreatic β cell. (B) shows the action of insulin secretagogues on the cell. AMPK = adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase; ACC = acetyl-CoA carboxylase; SREPB-1 = sterol-regulatory-element-binding-protein-1; VLDL = very low density lipoprotein. Photo: Lianne Friesen and Nicholas Woolridge