Residual beta-cell function and its metabolic consequences.
Improvement in the sensitivity and specificity of the C-peptide immunoassay and studies of larger groups of patients have increased our knowledge of the importance of residual beta-cell function and its metabolic consequences in insulin-treated diabetic patients. During the first five to 10 years after the onset of diabetes mellitus residual beta-cell function is demonstrable in the majority of insulin-treated patients irrespective of the severity of the initial symptoms and only partly dependent on the patient's age at diagnosis. Residual beta-cell function facilitates good control. Stable patients have a higher C-peptide concentration in plasma than unstable ones, but unmeasurable C-peptide is not always associated with poor control. More data are needed before the full significance of an even minimal reserve of beta-cell function is elucidated. It also remains to be shown whether the reductive in beta-cell function in diabetic patients has a qualitative as well as quantitative component.
D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007700:Kinetics; D010455:Peptides / Q000502:physiology*
D002096:C-Peptide; D010455:Peptides