Workshop 21

Insulin & C-peptide: clinical utility & methodological issues

Dr Gwen Wark

Historically insulin & C-peptide assays have been principally utilised for the investigation of hypoglycaemia. However, there is an increased clinical interest in the use of insulin & C-peptide in the assessment of insulin resistance and the classification of diabetes mellitus.

Methods available for insulin and C-peptide analysis vary with respect to assay sensitivity, specificity etc. Furthermore, the analytical requirements of insulin & C-peptide assays for the investigation of hypoglycaemia, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus are not necessarily the same. The workshop will provide an opportunity for discussion of the methodological problems and clinical utility of insulin & C-peptide measurements.