C-peptide
Noun
Meaning
C-peptide (plural C-peptides)
(biochemistry) The inactive polypeptide excised from proinsulin during its conversion to insulin, containing 31 amino acid residues and secreted in equimolar amounts to insulin from beta cells.
Synonyms
Examples
A "basic version" would include insulin, cortisol, and electrolytes, with C-peptide and drug screen for adults and growth hormone in children.
Both C-peptide and mature insulin are biologically active.
A c-peptide test can determine how much insulin the pancreas is producing.
C-peptide A substance the pancreas releases into the bloodstream in equal amounts to insulin.
C-peptide varies much more between animal species than does insulin itself.
Generally speaking, routine measurement of C-peptide as a measure of insulin production is not recommended unless there is genuine doubt as to whether someone has type 1 or type 2 diabetes.