[Evaluation of beta cell function in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and its correlations with...

Authors studied plasma C-peptide in basal period and after stimulation with one mg of glucagon intravenous in 73 patients with NIDDM. The results have confirmed initial clinical diagnosis of NIDDM. Significative correlations were obtained between basal C-peptide and C-peptide response to glucagon (r = 0.861; p less than 0.01); delta C-peptide (difference between C-peptide basal and after response to glucagon) (r = 0.361; p less than 0.01); body mass index (r = 0.423; p less than 0.01). The significant correlations between basal C-peptide, C-peptide response to glucagon and delta C-peptide show that basal C-peptide measurement is a sufficient test for beta-cell secretory capacity, even though do not give indicative signs for therapy choice of NIDDM for its multifactorial pathogenesis.