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. 2021 Sep;9(1):e002288.
doi: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2021-002288.

Residual C-peptide secretion and hypoglycemia awareness in people with type 1 diabetes

Martine J Wellens  1 , Charlotte E Vollenbrock  1 , Pim Dekker  2 , Lianne S M Boesten  3 , Petronella H Geelhoed-Duijvestijn  4 , Martine M C de Vries-Velraeds  2 , Giesje Nefs  2 , Bruce H R Wolffenbuttel  5 , Henk-Jan Aanstoot  2 , Peter R van Dijk  1
Affiliations

Residual C-peptide secretion and hypoglycemia awareness in people with type 1 diabetes

Martine J Wellens et al. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the association between fasting serum C-peptide levels and the presence of impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH) in people with type 1 diabetes.

Research design and methods: We performed a cross-sectional study among 509 individuals with type 1 diabetes (diabetes duration 5-65 years). Extensive clinical data and fasting serum C-peptide concentrations were collected and related to the presence or absence of IAH, which was evaluated using the validated Dutch version of the Clarke questionnaire. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed to investigate the association of C-peptide and other clinical variables with IAH.

Results: In 129 (25%) individuals, residual C-peptide secretion was detected, while 75 (15%) individuals reported IAH. The median (IQR) C-peptide concentration among all participants was 0.0 (0.0-3.9) pmol/L. The prevalence of severe hypoglycemia was lower in people with demonstrable C-peptide versus those with absent C-peptide (30% vs 41%, p=0.025). Individuals with IAH were older, had longer diabetes duration, more frequently had macrovascular and microvascular complications, and more often used antihypertensive drugs, antiplatelet agents and cholesterol-lowering medication. There was a strong association between IAH and having a severe hypoglycemia in the preceding year. In multivariable regression analysis, residual C-peptide, either continuously or dichotomous, was associated with lower prevalence of IAH (p=0.040-0.042), while age at diabetes onset (p=0.001), presence of microvascular complications (p=0.003) and body mass index (BMI) (p=0.003) were also independently associated with the presence of IAH.

Conclusions: Higher BMI, the presence of microvascular complications and higher age at diabetes onset were independent risk factors for IAH in people with type 1 diabetes, while residual C-peptide secretion was associated with lower risk of this complication.

Keywords: C-peptide; age of onset; awareness; hypoglycemia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: PD, MMCdVV, GN and HJA are employed at Diabeter Netherlands, an independent clinic which was acquired by Medtronic. The research presented here was independently performed and there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Relationship between C-peptide and diabetes duration in 509 individuals with type 1 diabetes. Regression line shows logarithmic fit.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Prevalence of impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH) in relation to diabetes duration and HbA1c concentrations. Overall p for % with IAH by χ2=0.006. (B) Prevalence of IAH in relation to serum C-peptide levels. Overall p for % with IAH by χ2=0.352.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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