C-Peptide

Unveil insulin production insights with C-Peptide, aiding precise diabetes care.

C-Peptide is a connecting-protein related to insulin, and its levels can be useful in predicting susceptibility to the development of type II diabetes. It can also be measured to estimate a patient's capacity for insulin secretion or in the evaluation of insulin sensitivity. The adequacy of pancreatic insulin synthesis is frequently assessed via the determination of C-peptide. Fasting-insulin is also measured to assess insulin resistance.

C-peptide can also be used in the evaluation of hypoglycemia. Patients with insulin-secreting neoplasms (cancers) have high levels of both C-peptide and endogenous insulin; in contrast, patients with factitious hypoglycemia will have low C-peptide levels in the presence of elevated (exogenous) serum insulin. C-peptide is also useful in evaluating residual beta-cell function in insulin-dependent diabetics, many of whom have antibodies that interfere with insulin assays.

TEST PREPARATION:

1. Fasting (no food; can have water and any medications that do not require food) for 10+ hours before the draw.
2. If you’re taking a supplement containing biotin (also called vitamin B7 or B8, vitamin H, or coenzyme R), commonly found in products promoting nail, skin, and hair health, it is recommended that you wait at least 72 hours from your last dose before sample collection.

[LC 010108]