Glimepiride lowers the blood sugar level, increasing the release of insulin hormone from the pancreas. Metformin decreases hepatic glucose production, decreases intestinal absorption of glucose, and improves insulin sensitivity by increasing peripheral glucose uptake and utilization. Glimepiride stimulates cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, which helps remove sugar from the blood. Metformin reduces sugar production by cells in the liver and delays sugar absorption from the intestines.