A family of facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs) is involved in regulating tissue-specific glucose uptake and metabolism in the liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue to ensure homeostatic control of blood glucose levels. Reduced glucose transport activity results in aberrant use of energy substrates and is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. It is well established that GLUT2, the main regulator of hepatic hexose flux, and GLUT4, the workhorse in insulin- and contraction-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, are critical contributors in the control of whole-body glycemia. However, the molecular mechanism how insulin controls glucose transport across membranes and its relation to impaired glycemic control in type 2 diabetes remains not sufficiently understood. An array of circulating metabolites and hormone-like molecules and potential supplementary glucose transporters play roles in fine-tuning glucose flux between the different organs in response to an altered energy demand.

促进型葡萄糖转运蛋白（GLUT）家族参与调节肝脏，骨骼肌和脂肪组织中特定组织的葡萄糖摄取和代谢，以确保血糖水平的稳态控制。葡萄糖转运活性降低导致能量底物的异常使用，并且与胰岛素抵抗和2型糖尿病有关。众所周知，肝己糖通量的主要调节剂GLUT2和骨骼肌中胰岛素和收缩刺激的葡萄糖摄取中的主力GLUT4是控制全身血糖的关键因素。然而，在2型糖尿病中，胰岛素如何控制葡萄糖跨膜运输的分子机制及其与血糖控制受损的关系尚不清楚。