The chemical structures of these of final compounds and intermediates were characterized by using IR, HRMS, ¹ H-NMR and ¹³ C-NMR spectroscopy and element analysis.

Metformin is considered an antihyperglycemic drug because it lowers blood glucose concentrations in type II diabetes without causing hypoglycemia. It is commonly described as an "insulin sensitizer", leading to a decrease in insulin resistance and a clinically significant reduction of plasma fasting insulin levels.

Sulfonylurea-based drugs are often used to treat diabetes, 605 despite their relatively limited solubility in water, and are hence often solubilized using co-solvents.

This review aims to increase clarity on the structure–function relationships of β-glucans in treating type 2 diabetes by examining detailed structural and conformational features of naturally derived β-glucans, as well as both chemical and instrumental methods used in their characterization, and their underlying anti-diabetic mechanisms.

These drugs bind to nuclear molecules, called peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR). Stimulation of PPAR will in turn activate genes responsible for insulin release. The medicinal chemistry of this class of anti-diabetic drug is a subject of this Special Issue.