Metformin's primary glucose-lowering mechanism in type 2 diabetes is:

• A Stimulation of insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells
• B Inhibition of renal glucose reabsorption via SGLT2 blockade
• C Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) reducing hepatic gluconeogenesis ✓
• D Delaying intestinal carbohydrate absorption via alpha-glucosidase inhibition

Explanation

Metformin primarily lowers blood glucose by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the liver, which suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis and enhances insulin sensitivity. It does not stimulate insulin secretion (unlike sulfonylureas), does not inhibit SGLT2 (that is empagliflozin's mechanism), and does not delay intestinal absorption (that is acarbose's mechanism).

Reference: Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 14th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.