The results are in for my C-peptide and IgG, and I am very pleased!
(Please see my previous discussions for a long narrative on why I had these tests run.)
The C-peptide was 3.8 (reference 1.1-4.4)
GAD65 was 0.00 (reference <0.02)
IgG was <1:4 (reference <1:4)
So, if I am reading this correctly, I have no antibodies to suggest an autoimmune attack on my pancreas, correct?
As far as the C-peptide, I am assuming this means I am making adequate insulin on my own. I know this particular test is not the most accurate in the world, but it does tell me that I make at least some of my own insulin, right? Since it is in the normal range, I am wondering if that means I have a lot of insulin resistance?
By the way, this test was not fasting, I had eaten some oatmeal about 2 hours before the test.
My medications are 1,000 mg of Metformin daily, 1.8 mg Victoza nightly, and 32 units of Lantus nightly. Not sure how any of the above factors would have affected the test results.
This would indicate that you are a Type 2. It also shows that you are still producing insulin. A Type 1 (or Type 1.5 for adult onset) would have the antibodies. It also would have a negligible or C-peptide number (although at the beginning stages it might be in a low normal range as the pancreas is shutting down production). Eating should not affect these tests. The medication would not either.
Congratulations Sparkysmom. I’m so glad that you were able to find out what is going on. While I’m not clear on the meaning of the numbers myself, Donna’s response sounds hopeful. I can only imagine how the uncertainty affected your progress. How are you doing now? Are you getting good readings most days? Joanne
C-Peptide is a by product of the production of insulin. Since you were not fasting it is to be expected your number would be highish if you are producing insulin. Here's a good explanation of what C-Peptide means and how to interpret results depending on if it is fasting or not. It would be interesting to know what your blood sugar was at the time of the test.
Some people think C-Peptide helps protect against complications, so your result may be a positive.
I know the antibody tests are not fool proof, but they would point to T2 which means you have insulin resistance by definition.
I love playing arm chair endo, it will be interesting what others say.
I agree with the others, it looks like a pretty good indication of Type 2. What have your doctors said? Having gone through the process of being unsure of type myself, I know what a relief it can be to know!
Hi Sparkysmom: Good for you for persisting to get these tests! Based on your family history, I think it is good to have some certainty, to put your mind at ease. What has your doc/endo said about these results?
Thanks, Peetie! I am actually getting very good numbers. I have been able to titrate my Lantus down to 32 units nightly over the last couple of weeks, from 40 units. Of course, my all-time high of Lantus was 75 units before the Victoza was started, so I feel like the Victoza is mostly responsible for this ability to decrease the Lantus.
My morning numbers are anywhere from 90-110, so I’m very happy with that.
Zoe, see above for my response to Peetie. I am very, very pleased with my results this last week, since I have leveled off to about 32 units of Lantus and 1.8 Lantus.
I am just relieved that my regular doctor was willing to listen to me and run the tests and she did not make me feel like an idiot for asking for them. I have not talked with her about it, I just went and picked the results up. I will go to the diabetes doctors in a couple of weeks and give the results to them. I’m sure they will tell me that I was foolish in asking for the tests to begin with, especially that snotty NP, but I don’t care, it made me happy and put my mind at rest!
I have not talked to the regular doctor, I just got the call that they were normal and I could pick up the paper copy of the results, so I got them yesterday. I will go back to my diabetes doctor in a couple of weeks and I will give the results to them. I am sure they will give me the “I told you so” speech, but I don’t care. It was still negligent of them not to run the tests in the first place (in my opinion), so this put my mind at ease and that will only benefit me in my further treatment. Not to mention the fact that it will provide a baseline so that if anything else comes up, they can at least compare the two test results.
I am still an advocate for testing. I am starting to get pretty passionate about it. How many people are misdiagnosed and treated inadequately because of lack of testing? This much worry was so needless.
That is what I thought. I am firmly a T2, and given my family history of both types, I definitely wanted some answers. I am grateful this answered that question for me!
I am glad you are finding piece of mind by getting the tests done.
I am on the same medication regime as you and have found as a Type 2 that even loosing a huge amount of weight I have damaged my pancreas enough that I can spike on the slightest amount of carbs. I have had the C Pep and produce insulin but under stress I dont put enough out. I have no phase two response and am only covering myself with my own basal insulin so if I spike it can take a long time to get it back down.
I am getting good control by really watching my diet but my Dr warns me not to get my hopes up. He said many T-2’s have lost significant insulin production at the time of diagnosis. You may find that when you reach goal weight that even then you are insulin deficient as I have found.
Donna, I have to disagree with your statement that sparkysmom’s medications would not affect her tests. Since Victoza prompts the pancreas to produce insulin in response to glucose in the blood, one would expect an elevated C-Peptide, 2 hrs after a meal. Another effect is to decrease the livers output of glucose, this might explain her decreased basal insulin needs.
Pauly, I have come that conclusion also. I have a feeling that the Victoza has stimulated my pancreas to produce more insulin than it ordinarily would have had I not been on it. I have told my doctors all along that I am okay with having to be on insulin for the rest of my life (and I truly am okay with it), I just would like to be on the least amount possible. That’s why I am really happy with the Victoza. Now, if they come out with studies stating it definitely causes cancer, etc., then I am SCREWED, because this stuff really works!
It would have been nice (and informative) to know what my C-peptide was back before I started the Victoza. Guess I’ll never know. Right now, I’m not about to go off it, I’m liking my numbers too much!
Well, the c-peptide is a somewhat difficult test to interpret, you really need to know your Blood Sugar (BS) at the time of the test. Eating two hours before the test won’t necessarily do it (the half life of c-peptide is 30 minutes). A c-peptide in the normal range with a normal BS won’t tell you whether you are insulin resistant or deficient. If you have a high BS and a high c-peptide, that suggests insulin resistance, and a high BS and a low c-peptide suggests insulin deficiency. From your tests, it “suggests” you are type 2.
I just checked my meter, and I had checked it about 15 minutes before they drew the blood. I was in the room and waiting, so I was bored and check it. It read 122. I had eaten a small bowl of oatmeal at about 8:00 a.m. 2-1/2 hours earlier.
Thanks for the great link BadMoon, well written and very informative. I infer from it that the longer one fasts before a c-peptide the lower the result?
