C-peptide determination in the diagnosis of type of diabetes and its management: A clinical perspective

Impaired beta-cell function is a recognized cornerstone of diabetes pathophysiology. Estimates of insulin secretory capacity are useful to inform clinical practice, helping to classify types of diabetes, complication risk stratification and to guide treatment decisions. Because C-peptide secretion mirrors beta-cell function, it has emerged as a valuable clinical biomarker, mainly in autoimmune diabetes and especially in adult-onset diabetes. Nonetheless, the lack of robust evidence about the clinical utility of C-peptide measurement in type 2 diabetes, where insulin resistance is a major confounder, limits its use in such cases. Furthermore, problems remain in the standardization of the assay for C-peptide, raising concerns about comparability of measurements between different laboratories. To approach the heterogeneity and complexity of diabetes, reliable, simple and inexpensive clinical markers are required that can inform clinicians about probable pathophysiology and disease progression, and so enable personalization of management and therapy. This review summarizes the current evidence base about the potential value of C-peptide in the management of the two most prevalent forms of diabetes (type 2 diabetes and autoimmune diabetes) to address how its measurement may assist daily clinical practice and to highlight current limitations and areas of uncertainties to be covered by future research.