Wednesday, January 07, 2009
C-Peptide
Hypoglycemia, beta cell function assessment
| Sample |
Serum or heparin plasma. Fasting sample (refrigerate) |
| Schedule |
Daily |
| Units |
ng/mL |
| Range |
Less than 5,0 ng/mL |
| Remarks |
C-Peptide is increased in hypoglycemic patients with insulin-secreting neoplasms (also increased levels of endogenous insulin), and decresased in hypoglycemic patinets with low C-peptide levels in the presence of high exogenous insulin. Assessment of C-peptide is also useful in insulin-dependent diabetics in cases when antibodies to insulin are produced. Type 1 Diabetes (Insulin dependent): The insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas are almost completely demaged and do not produce insulin. Type 2 Diabetes (Non-insulin dependent): The insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas produce either not enough insulin or the body of the patients becames resistant to the effects of their own insulin.
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Updated: Thursday, July 20, 2006
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