Clinical application of the 24-H urinary C-peptide excretion rate and its relationship to metabolic control in diabetics

Summary In this study, we evaluated in normal subjects, insulin-dependent (IDD) and non-insulin-dependent (NIDD) diabetics, the diurnal urinary C-peptide excretion rate (CPR-U) and its relationship to serum C-peptide concentration and glucose:C-peptide molar ratio, and to the common parameters of metabolic control. The CPR-U (and CPR-U/g creatinine) were significantly lower in IDD and higher in NIDD compared to control subjects. Moreover, a good and significant correlation with serum C-peptide concentrations and the glucose:C-peptide ratio in diabetic subjects as well as in controls and diabetics considered together was found. A slight but significant correlation was present in diabetic subjects between CPR-U and body mass index (r=0.45), 24-h glycosuria (r=−0.36), HbA1 levels (r=−0.31), post-prandial glucose concentrations (r=−0.26) and per cent glucose variation after each meal (r=−0.34). No differences were found in CPR-U and the degree of metabolic control between obese and non-obese NIDD. In conclusion, CPR-U may be a useful and simple method of defining the secretory activity of the B-cell. Metabolic control in diabetics is slightly correlated to the degree of B-cell function as evaluated by the diurnal excretion rate of C-peptide in urine. Part of this paper was presented at the National Meeting of the Italian Diabetes Association, Bari, May 27–29, 1982.