C-Peptide – A blood test for the body's own insulin production
C-peptide is a blood test that is usually performed to understand the body's insulin production and can be crucial for the correct diagnosis and possible treatment. However, the test should always be assessed in a clinical context and advantageously performed together with other relevant blood tests, such as glucose and HbA1c.
What does a C-peptide test show?
C-peptide is formed as a by-product when the body produces insulin in the pancreas. Since insulin and C-peptide are released in equal amounts, this test provides a reliable indication of how much insulin the body itself produces.
C-Peptide is most often measured to answer two different questions about what type of diabetes a person has, such as diabetes 1 or diabetes 2, and when diagnosed with diabetes, to be able to make decisions about what type of diabetes treatment, such as starting insulin or not. People with type 1 diabetes often have low or non-existent C-peptide levels, unlike people with type 2 diabetes who usually have normal or elevated levels.
Interpretation of test results for S- C-Peptide
Elevated C-peptide levels can occur in insulin resistance, obesity and certain hormonal diseases, while low levels can indicate reduced insulin production in, for example, type 1 diabetes or advanced type 2 diabetes. In some cases, the test can also be used to evaluate insulin-producing tumors in the pancreas (insulinoma) or in the investigation of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) of unclear cause.
C-Peptide should be used as a blood test that can help answer the above questions and should not be measured alone but together with glucose.
