Figure 1.

Insulin-dependent and -independent skeletal muscle glucose disposal requires: (1) glucose delivery to the muscle from circulation through the extracellular matrix to the cell membrane; (2) uptake via facilitative glucose transporters either constitutively on the cell membrane or translocated in response to insulin or exercise; and (3) a glucose diffusion gradient to drive glucose into the cell which is modulated by intracellular glucose metabolism. Hexokinase (HK). Phosphokinase B (Akt).