C-peptide and chronic complications in patients with type-2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome

Summary Introduction We investigated the relation between C-peptide levels and the prevalence of diabetic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. Methods This study includes all patients with diabetes and treated only with oral hypoglycemic agents who were admitted to our department in 2006. The chronic complications of diabetes (vascular disease, retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy) were evaluated. Results The 77 patients with type 2 diabetes and treated only with oral hypoglycemic agents were divided in two groups, with and without the metabolic syndrome. The two groups did not differ in glycemic control, blood pressure levels, or duration of diabetes. CRP levels were higher in patients with the metabolic syndrome (p = 0.03), and nephropathy was more common (70%, compared with 33%). Similar, C-peptide levels were higher in patients with the metabolic syndrome: 3.12 ± 1.36 compared with 1.82 ± 1.25 (p  Discussion Higher C-peptide levels were associated with metabolic syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes and in diabetes patients who also had nephropathy and vascular disease.