CHSU Discovery

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is increasingly prevalent and burdensome, affecting 1 in 10 people in the United States and approximately 49% of all adults in Fresno County as of 2016. T2D pathophysiology is characterized by insulin resistance, resulting in excessive stimulation of pancreatic beta cells to secrete both insulin and C-peptide as part of the body’s compensatory response. This strenuous effort leads to beta cell failure, thus causing a gradual decline in insulin and C-peptide production as T2D symptoms and associated complications arise. Currently, glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) serves as the current biomarker of pancreatic beta cell function due to its ability to reliably measure chronic hyperglycemia. However, in long-standing T2D, monitoring C-peptide levels may provide a more precise and predictable measure of T2D progression. Bautista Medical Group clinics have been collecting semi-annual C-peptide levels in compliant patients for decades, and by using retrospective lab results, we aim to identify a statistically significant correlation between HbA1c and C-peptide as a function of time and treatment in T2D patients with the goal of determining whether C-peptide can serve as a valuable biomarker to continuously monitor throughout diabetic management of long-term glycemic control.