Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas. It regulates the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood at all times. It also aids in the storage of glucose in your liver, muscles, and fats. It is an indication of Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes if your body does not produce enough insulin. The C-peptide test detects the presence of C peptides in the blood. In the pancreas, C peptide is released alongside insulin. Insulin and C peptide are secreted in nearly equal amounts by the pancreas at the same time. As a result, this test aids in determining how much insulin your body produces. C-peptide has a 30 minute half-life and tends to persist in the body longer than insulin. The half-life of insulin is 15 minutes. As a result, this test is an effective approach to assess insulin levels, particularly pancreatic insulin levels, while excluding insulin levels in the bloodstream from injected insulin. A C-peptide test aids in the identification of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The distinction between the two is that in Type 1 Diabetes, the pancreas secretes very little insulin and very little C-peptide. In Type 2 Diabetes, the pancreas secretes insulin, but the body does not use it efficiently, resulting in elevated C-peptide levels. If the result of the C-peptide test confirms Diabetes diagnosis, treatment should be initiated under expert guidance. If your glucose levels are low (hypoglycemia) and you have symptoms such as irregular pulse, uncontrollable hunger, blurred vision, dizziness, and excessive sweating, you may need a C-peptide test. The test is also advised for detecting a pancreatic tumor. Extremely high amounts of C-peptide would indicate the presence of a tumor. Insulinoma is the medical term for this type of tumor. The C-Peptide test is used to determine whether your pancreas will be removed during surgery. Other names of the C-Peptide test 1. Insulin C-peptide test 2. Connecting peptide Insulin 3. Proinsulin C-peptide What does the C-peptide test detect or measure and who is this prescribed for? The C-peptide test measures the levels of C- peptide in the blood, which helps us to know the status of endogenous insulin in the body. Generally, a C-peptide Test is ordered if your symptoms indicate Diabetes Mellitus. Some indications of prescribing a C-peptide Test are: Your blood glucose levels are higher than average. Greater than 120 mg/dL while fasting or alternatively they are Greater than 200 mg/dL during a random blood test Irregular Heartbeat Uncontrolled hunger. Blurred vision Sweating Confused state of mind Dizziness and Fainting Unexplained weight loss Frequent Urination Feel lethargic Thirsty Tingling sensations in extremities Some disease conditions for which a C-peptide test can be prescribed are: Type I Diabetes Mellitus Type II Diabetes Mellitus Insulinoma

Hypoglycemia, Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Insulinoma

0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL Normal range Less than 0.5 ng/mL Low - Type 1 Diabetes More than 2.0 ng/mL High - Type 2 Diabetes These levels are high when the pancreas secretes high levels of insulin and are low when the insulin secretion is minimal.

Low levels of C-peptide indicate: You have Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes, with the pancreas releasing little or no insulin in your body. You are taking insulin as your treatment for Diabetes Mellitus and the insulin taken is suppressing the release of endogenous insulin. Treatment for insulinoma has worked and the tumour has shrunk. High levels of C-peptide indicate: A high insulin level means the body has developed resistance to insulin which interprets that your body is not utilising the insulin secreted by the pancreas. (Also, if you have Type 2 Diabetes, your insulin levels may be high.) This may also indicate a tumour known as insulinoma, in which the tumour secretes excess insulin.

The results of a C-Peptide test are based on the analysis of a blood sample. Test Preparation The C-peptide test is either A blood test that requires fasting for 8-12 hrs. The usual way to collect a blood sample is by drawing it from one of the veins usually, the forearm veins. You may feel a slight prick. For a urine test; you will have to pee into a sample collection container. For a 24-hour sample, you will need to collect the entire urine that you pass in a day. Test inclusions: What parameters are inclusive? The C-peptide test includes the following parameter: 1. The range or value of C-peptide secreted by the pancreas in the blood. C-peptide levels are the only parameters included in this test. They provide information on the secretion of insulin by the pancreas. The C-peptide test does not give a positive or negative result. How frequently should you take the C-Peptide test? The C-peptide test may be repeated by the consulting physician to check and evaluate the effectiveness of the Diabetes treatment. Doctors may prescribe a C-peptide test every six months, following a diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus by an M.D. physician or endocrinologist, to monitor and regulate the dosage. The results of the C-peptide test may help your doctor continue the same treatment or modify the dosage of ongoing medicines.