Biomarker potential of C-peptide for screening of insulin resistance in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals

Abstract EN

Insulin resistance is a hallmark feature of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

We determined the homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and evaluated its association with C-peptide, insulin, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in T2DM patients and non-diabetic subjects.

This study comprised a total of 47 T2DM patients and 38 non-diabetic controls.

Venous blood samples from all the subjects were collected and sera were analyzed for FBG, HbA1c, insulin and Cpeptide using an autoanalyzer.

HOMA-IR was calculated using the following equation: HOMA-IR = fasting insulin (μU/ml) fasting glucose (mmol/L)/22.5.

There was a significant increase in the levels of FBG and HbA1c in diabetic patients.

Although the levels of C-peptide and insulin did not differ significantly between the two groups, a significant increase in HOMA-IR was observed in T2DM patients.

Both insulin and C-peptide were significantly correlated with HOMA-IR.

In conclusion, C-peptide may serve as a simple and convenient predictor of HOMA-IR.