Article Highlights:The type 2 diabetes (T2D) treatment dorzagliatin has achieved singular success among its drug class, known as glucokinase (GK) activators (GKAs). A comprehensive approach using human islet perifusions, enzyme kinetics, X-ray crystallography, and modeling studies revealed the unique mechanism by which dorzagliatin activates GK. Dorzagliatin dose-dependently reduces the glucose threshold for stimulation of insulin secretion and binds preferably to the closed form of GK, preventing overstimulation of the enzyme. A renewed interest in GKAs, coupled with modern tools to assess their molecular interactions with GK, should guide the future development of novel GKA treatments for T2D.