Pyridinyloxyphenyl and pyridinyloxybenzyl oxazolidine-2,4-diones and thiazolidine-2,4-diones are agonists or partial agonists of PPAR gamma and are useful in the treatment and control of hyperglycemia that is symptomatic of type II diabetes, as well as dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and obesity that are often associated with type 2 diabetes.