Q: Hello i have had diabetes for 22 yrs my doc wanted 2 put me on a insulin pump but after lab work she stated i couldnt get one because of my labs somethimg about my pancreas...can u explain this 2 me?? thanksA: I think the test you had was something called a C-peptide.
When our pancreas produces insulin, it starts off as a large molecule. It divides into two pieces, insulin and C-peptide. We don’t know what C-peptide does, but we know when it is present in the blood, the body is making its own insulin. C-peptide is measured in a blood sample to see if the body is still making insulin.
Sometimes this is important if you want an insulin pump. Often an insurance company does not want to cover the cost of a pump for a body that is still able to produce its own insulin.
Normal results for C-peptide is usually .5 to 2.0 ng/mL. Be sure and check the values from the laboratory where your test was run and ask your physician exactly what your number was.
To make sure that the results really reflect how much insulin your body is producing, you may have been asked to fast or not eat for 8 to 12 hours before the test was drawn. Any food you eat may trigger your pancreas to produce any insulin it can----which would make the results higher than they usually are.
Check again with your doctor. Follow the directions very carefully before the blood is drawn.
Are you seeing an endocrinologist? They may be able to write a letter in your behalf. Each pump company also has specialty nurses that may be able to help you as well.
Best of luck to you! ginny
