Pioglitazone
ActosPubChem CID 4829 · 3D model
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Makes the body's fat, muscle, and liver cells respond better to the insulin already circulating, rather than pushing the pancreas to release more of it — taking weeks, not hours, to kick in.
How it works
Pioglitazone doesn't make the body release more insulin — it makes the body's cells respond better to the insulin that's already there, mainly in fat, muscle, and liver tissue. It works by switching on genes involved in how the body handles sugar and fat, which is why it takes weeks, not hours, to kick in, unlike most other diabetes medicines on this site.
What it’s used for
Pioglitazone is used to help control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, usually alongside diet, exercise, and sometimes other diabetes medicines. It's not used for type 1 diabetes.
- Mechanism
- PPAR-gamma agonist
- Drug class
- Small molecule
- Therapeutic area
- Metabolic / Diabetes