C-peptide testing: preserved or high levels indicate which type of diabetes?

Master the HCC1 Glucose Regulation Test with targeted questions and explanations. Enhance your preparation and boost your confidence for the exam!

Multiple Choice

C-peptide testing: preserved or high levels indicate which type of diabetes?

Explanation:
C-peptide reflects how much insulin your own pancreas is producing, since it is released in equal amounts with endogenous insulin. In type 1 diabetes, autoimmune destruction of beta cells drastically reduces insulin production, so C-peptide becomes low or undetectable. In type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance prompts the pancreas to keep producing insulin, and often at normal or higher levels, so C-peptide is preserved or elevated. That pattern of preserved or high C-peptide is therefore most consistent with type 2 diabetes rather than type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes, or prediabetes.

C-peptide reflects how much insulin your own pancreas is producing, since it is released in equal amounts with endogenous insulin. In type 1 diabetes, autoimmune destruction of beta cells drastically reduces insulin production, so C-peptide becomes low or undetectable. In type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance prompts the pancreas to keep producing insulin, and often at normal or higher levels, so C-peptide is preserved or elevated. That pattern of preserved or high C-peptide is therefore most consistent with type 2 diabetes rather than type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes, or prediabetes.

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