C-PEPTIDE

C-PEPTIDE; C-Terminal Insulin

The C-peptide test is a tool your doctor uses to test whether you have type 1 diabetes, when the immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas, or type 2, when your body doesn't use insulin as well it should. It shows how well your body makes insulin, which moves sugar (or “glucose”) from your blood into your cells.The test can help your doctor decide whether you need to take insulin to control your condition.

You might get the C-peptide test:

• To find out whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes
• When you have type 1 and your doctor needs to know how much insulin your pancreas still makes
• To find out if it is time to start insulin in a patient with type 2 diabetes.
• To find out why you have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• To diagnose a tumor of the pancreas that releases insulin, called an insulinoma
• If you've had your pancreas removed

It can tell the difference between insulin your body has made and insulin that you took because only insulin your pancreas is making is associated with cpeptide.