Occasionally an adult or child is diagnosed with diabetes who does not fit the stereotypical picture of the type of diabetes associated with their age group. How does the measurement of a blood C peptide level help to determine the type of diabetes?
Answer
C-peptide is only released when insulin is produced. Therefore, if C-peptide is not present, or is in low concentrations, doctors would, very likely, determine that the patient is suffering from type 1 diabetes. (In type 2 diabetes insulin is still produced, though is not readily used due to insulin resistance.)
Occasionally an adult or child is diagnosed with diabetes who does not fit the stereotypical picture of the type of diabetes associated with their age group. How does the measurement of a blood C peptide level help to determine the type of diabetes?