title: Determination of C-peptide in children: when is it useful?
abstract: Diabetes results from insulin deficiency but despite this endogenous insulin secretion is infrequently measured. C-peptide is not present in synthetic insulin so it's presence indicates endogenous secretion. One of the key roles for measuring C-peptide in childhood is to assist in the diagnosis of diabetes subtypes, which in turn determines appropriate management. It is also useful in Type 1 diabetes to monitor disease course, both in clinical practice and in trials following intervention with disease modifying agents. Measuring C-peptide routinely in Type 1 diabetes provides valuable information to the patient and clinician about glucose variability, risk of hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis. Newer more practical methods of C-peptide determination are now available to allow assessment of endogenous insulin secretion in routine clinical practice. We review the physiology of insulin secretion, the essential roles and methods for C-peptide determination in blood and in urine.
authors: Peninsula NIHR Clinical Research Facility, Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK. rachel.besser@nhs.net
authors: Rachel E J
authors: RE
authors: Besser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011384:Proinsulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002096:C-Peptide; D011384:Proinsulin