Q. Does C-peptide level help in diagnosing diabetes?
C-peptide level may help in differentiating type 1 diabetes from type 2 diabetes, but does not actually help in the diagnosis of diabetes. However, it can help your physician in the treatment of diabetes. In case of type 2 diabetes, a fall in C-peptide levels and insulin levels may indicate that the oral hypoglycemic tablets may not help the patient and insulin injection therapy should be started. Thus, C-peptide level can guide the treatment of diabetes.
Q. Can drugs increase C-peptide level?
Yes, the sulphonylurea class of drug, which is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, can lead to an increase in C-peptide level. However, this happens if the beta cell reserve of the pancreas is enough. Examples of sulphonylurea drugs include Chlorpropamide, Glimepiride, Glipizide, Glyburide, and Tolbutamide.
Q. How does C-peptide test help in the treatment of type 2 diabetes?
In type 2 diabetes, there can be insulin resistance. To cope up with this resistance, the body produces and releases more insulin, which can also lead to beta cell damage. Type 2 diabetics usually are treated with oral drugs to stimulate the pancreas to make more insulin or decrease insulin resistance (cells to be more sensitive to the insulin that is already being made). Gradually, there can be beta cell damage to such an extent that type 2 diabetics may make very little insulin and require insulin injections. Any insulin that the body makes will be reflected in the C-peptide level. Therefore, the C-peptide test can be used to monitor beta cell activity and capability over time and to help a doctor determine when to begin insulin treatment.
Q. What is stimulated C-peptide test?
If the test is to diagnose either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, an injection of glucagon may be given into the arm between two blood samples in an attempt to stimulate insulin production. Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus have low C-peptide levels on glucagon stimulation.
Q. Is there any risk associated with this test?
There is no risk associated with the test. However, since this test involves a needle prick to withdraw the blood sample, in very rare cases, a patient may experience increased bleeding, hematoma formation (blood collection under the skin), bruising or infection at the site of needle prick.