Novel acyl urea, thiourea, carbamate, thiocarbamate and related compounds are provided which are effective in inhibiting the cytokine-mediated inflammatory response in cultured cells, in ameliorating bone destruction in an animal model of arthritis and in lowering blood glucose levels in animal models of Type II diabetes mellitus. The compounds are disclosed as useful for a variety of treatments including the treatment of diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, inflammation, inflammatory diseases, immunological diseases and cancer.