C-Peptide (Blood)

Does this take a look at produce other names?

Connecting peptide insulin, insulin C-peptide, proinsulin C-peptide 

What is that this take a look at?

This blood take a look at appears to be like at how properly your physique’s makes insulin. It is used to assist diagnose blood sugar issues.

Your physique wants the hormone insulin to maneuver sugar by means of your bloodstream to your cells for power. A wholesome pancreas makes equal quantities of insulin and the protein C-peptide. By measuring your C-peptide, your healthcare supplier may also find out about your insulin degree. 

Why do I want this take a look at?

Measuring C-peptide can present whether or not you’ve got kind 1 or kind 2 diabetes. In kind 1 diabetes, your physique would not make any insulin. In kind 2 diabetes, both your physique would not make sufficient insulin, or your cells cannot use it usually.

In case you have diabetes, the C-peptide take a look at can present how properly your therapy is working.

The C-peptide take a look at may be executed to seek out the reason for low blood sugar. Or to test the exercise of tumors that make insulin.

What different checks may I’ve together with this take a look at?

Your healthcare supplier additionally may order:

• Blood glucose take a look at. This measures the quantity of glucose (sugar) in your blood

• Glucagon take a look at. This measures the extent of one other hormone made by the pancreas. Glucagon helps increase blood sugar.

• A1c take a look at. That is often known as glycosylated hemoglobin blood take a look at. This can be a measure of your blood glucose ranges over the previous 3 months. It reveals how properly your diabetes is being managed.

• Insulin assay. This can be a take a look at that straight measures your insulin ranges.

What do my take a look at outcomes imply?

Take a look at outcomes might differ relying in your age, gender, well being historical past, and different issues. Your take a look at outcomes could also be totally different relying on the lab used. They might not imply you’ve got an issue. Ask your healthcare supplier what your take a look at outcomes imply for you.

Take a look at outcomes are given in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Regular outcomes are inside the vary of 0.5 to 2.7 ng/mL however can differ relying on the lab that’s used for testing.

A excessive degree of C-peptide might imply various situations. These embody a kidney drawback or an insulinoma, a tumor of the insulin-making cells within the pancreas. It might additionally imply it’s worthwhile to alter the quantity of insulin you’re taking.

A degree of C-peptide that is decrease than regular signifies that your physique is not making sufficient insulin or that your pancreas is not working accurately.

How is that this take a look at executed?

The take a look at wants a blood pattern, which is drawn by means of a needle from a vein in your arm.

Does this take a look at pose any dangers?

Taking a blood pattern with a needle carries dangers that embody bleeding, an infection, bruising, or feeling dizzy. When the needle pricks your arm, it’s possible you’ll really feel a slight stinging sensation or ache. Afterward, the location could also be barely sore.

What may have an effect on my take a look at outcomes?

Taking insulin to your diabetes can increase your C-peptide ranges. Your C-peptide degree may also change in case your kidneys aren’t working accurately. The timing of your most up-to-date meal might have an effect on your C-peptide degree.

How do I prepare for this take a look at?

Comply with your healthcare supplier’s instructions for not consuming or consuming something earlier than the take a look at. The take a look at may be executed after you have eaten. Inform your supplier about all medicines, herbs, nutritional vitamins, and dietary supplements you’re taking. This contains medicines that do not want a prescription and any unlawful drug use.