Diagram of glucose reduction and insulin release in the pancreas<unk> s bind to and close ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels on the cell membrane of pancreatic beta cells, which depolarizes the cell by preventing potassium from exiting. This depolarization opens voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. The rise in intracellular calcium leads to increased fusion of insulin granules with the cell membrane, and therefore increased secretion of mature insulin. There is some evidence that<unk> s also sensitize β-cells to glucose, that they limit glucose production in the liver, that they decrease lipolysis (breakdown and release of fatty acids by adipose tissue) and decrease clearance of insulin by the liver. The KATP channel is an octameric complex of the inward-rectifier potassium ion channel Kir6.x and<unk>  receptor<unk> R which associate with a stoichiometry of 4:4. Furthermore, it has been shown that<unk> s interact with the nucleotide exchange factor Epac2. Mice lacking this factor exhibited a decreased glucose-lowering effect upon<unk>  treatment.
Sulfonylurea
Aminosalicylate
Omega-3 carboxylic acids
Anthopleurin
Niclosamide
Allopurinol
Bisphosphonate
Retinoid