Hydrangeic acid is an orally effective stilbene-type glycolipid metabolism regulator that lowers blood glucose and lipids. This compound can be isolated from processed leaves of Hydrangea macrophylla var. thunbergii. It is linked to glucose-lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity regulation. Hydrangeic acid does not directly activate PPARγ or PPARα; instead, it enhances the mRNA expression of adiponectin, PPARγ2, GLUT4, and fatty acid-binding protein aP2 while reducing TNF-α mRNA levels, thereby promoting adipogenesis, glucose uptake, and GLUT4 translocation in 3T3-L1 cells. Additionally, it suppresses the production of NO induced by inflammatory factors, improving insulin resistance. Hydrangeic acid is useful for research related to type 2 diabetes and does not cause liver weight gain.