Which mechanism reduces hepatic glucose production?

• A. Delay carb absorption
• B. Increase glucose secretion in urine
• C. Reduce hepatic glucose production
• D. Mimic incretin hormones

Answer: (C)

Inhibiting hepatic glucose production mainly comes from enhancing the body's incretin effect. Incretin hormones, like GLP-1, boost insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent way and suppress glucagon release. The rise in insulin acts on the liver to lower gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, while the decrease in glucagon removes a strong signal driving liver glucose output. Therapies that mimic incretin hormones take advantage of this combined action, leading to a direct reduction in hepatic glucose production. Other approaches, like delaying carbohydrate absorption, change the timing of glucose entry but don’t directly suppress the liver’s glucose output, and urinary glucose loss lowers plasma glucose without altering hepatic production. Therefore, mimicking incretin hormones best explains the reduction in hepatic glucose production.