Correlation of C-Peptide and HbA1c in Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus -NIDDM) is a chronic metabolic disorder most prevalent in India with microvascular complications. Several studies were underway to identify biomarkers to detect complications associated with increasing duration of disease. The present study was done to understand the role of Connecting peptide (C-peptide) in pathogenesis of microvascular changes and it’s correlation to dyslipidemia of T2DM. The study was done at Government General Hospital, Guntur. In this study 61 known T2 DM patients and 51 age sex matched controls were selected. Their fasting blood samples were analysed for FBS, HbA1C, Urea, Creatinine, Total Cholesterol, High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and C-peptide. Dyslipidemia was not observed in Diabetic patients compared to controls (TC, HDLC & NonHDL p = 0.363, 0.294 & 0.336 respectively). HbA1C and C-peptide showed significant correlation between cases and controls (P = <0.00001). C-peptide showed significant correlation with lipid parameters & lipid ratios in individuals with poor glycemic control identified by HbA1c value of >9%. (ANOVA p = <0.0001) Pearson’s correlation showed negative relation of HbA1c and C-peptide with lipid parameters TC, HDLC & Non HDLC (r = 0.378, 0.732, 0.313 and 0.81, 0.91 & 0.843 consecutively). C-peptide showed significant variation with Non HDL / HDL ratio & Non HDL / TC ratio (p = <0.002 & <0.00007) in diabetic patients with poor glycemic control identified by HbA1c of > 9%. We conclude that C-peptide would be a good marker to assess degree of function of pancreas and predictor of atherogenic complication in longstanding NIDDM. Keywords: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, C-peptide, HbA1c, Atherogenesis.