C Peptide result

[SB2015]

I had a c peptide test, from a urine sample, recently as I was interested to know if I had any Beta cells still lurking and mucking around when least expected. The value came back as 0.08 which is severe lack of insulin.

However I have no idea whether that figure means whether there are still just enough to cause confusion in my management at times. I guess as it is not zero there are some left, but in spite of looking things up I could only find the definition that I therefore had T1. Does anyone know more about the values?

 

[trophywench]

Normal = 0.4 to 2.0 nanograms per ml. - presumably that means normal non diabetic levels.

There again a T1 can retain a weeny little bit of insulin production for 70 odd years post diagnosis, so I doubt very much indeed if anyone as low as you would notice any use whatever of that amount of help from your Beta cells.

You retain a bit, but not enough to be of any practical use to you - is my interpretation.

 

[Becka]

For a urine C-peptide creatinine ratio, a severe insulin deficiency is a value under 0.2 nmol/mmol/L whilst a normal value is 0.6 nmol/mmol/L or greater. Notwithstanding that insulin output is variable dependent on your glucose levels. Something my surgery needs to learn!

Most type 2 diabetics will have normal output, but so can newly diagnosed type 1s in the honeymoon period.

A small numbers of type 1s will stay in the intermediate range between between the two, but five years after diagnosis most will have progressed to a severe deficiency.

It should have no effect on your management, a severe deficiency means you require insulin and should be managed as type 1.

 

[Becka]

Not much extra detail, but a source:

C-peptide creatinine ratio (UCPCR): Urine Exeter Clinical Laboratory International

www.exeterlaboratory.com

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Interesting stuff @SB2015

I had no idea you were investigating this 🙂

 

[SB2015]

Not much extra detail, but a source:

C-peptide creatinine ratio (UCPCR): Urine Exeter Clinical Laboratory International

www.exeterlaboratory.com

Thanks Becka

That was the link my consultant sent with the the result.
I just thought fine, but then wondered whether a value of 0.08 might mean that there were enough to cause some issues now and then, but I suspect that it is insignificant. Numbers mean nothing unless you have some idea of the measure.

I was interested as I know that some have continued to produce insulin for ages after diagnosis, such as @Northerner. Alan do you know your peptide value?

 

[DaveB]

Hi. I also found that link a few months back and the most useful I've found. My insulin has taken 'years' to go down. I've had two tests done privately one a year or so after diagnosis 6 years ago and another last year. The latter showed a much lower result (270 pmol/L) than the first and just above the Exeter T1 top level. My tests were blood rather than urine. You do need to watch out for the units used as the private lab used ug/L

 

[SB2015]

Interesting stuff @SB2015

I had no idea you were investigating this 🙂

I think I was hoping for a bit of an explanation (or something to blame) for the vagaries of my management. However I suspect that it is just ‘normal T1’ along with DF calling in to play at times!!!