Nateglinide is a non-sulfonylurea insulin secretagogue used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. As the name of the drug class suggests, nateglinide acts on pancreatic beta-cells to stimulate insulin secretion. Under physiological conditions, insulin secretion from beta-cells is mediated by elevated glucose concentration in the blood. Glucose enters the cell via GLUT2 (SLC2A2) transporters. Once inside the cell, glucose is metabolized to produce ATP. High concentration of ATP will inhibit ATP-dependent potassium channels (ABCC8), which depolarizes the cell. Depolarization causes opening of voltage-gated calcium channels, allowing calcium to enter cell. High intracellular calcium subsequently stimulate vesicle exocytosis and insulin secretion. Nateglinide stimulate insulin secretion in a glucose-sensitive manner by inhibiting ATP-dependent potassium channels. As a result, there tends to be a lesser likelihood of hypoglycemia with nateglinide therapy compared to sulfonylureas.