Dr Ford Brewer - PrevMed

How to diagnose Type 1 vs Type 2 Diabetes: C Peptide

Episode Summary

Over half of adults in California have insulin resistance. Insulin resistance and diabetes are the major causes of cv inflammation and therefore heart attack, stroke, and dementia. If you're over 60 yo, you're more likely than not insulin resistant. So, if you think you won't be touched by this problem - reconsider that. What's the difference between Type 1 DM and Type 2? And why is Type 1 an issue? Type 1 is far more severe. And the following study shows that Type 1 Diabetes happens just as often in people 30-49 years as it does in younger people. Since Type 2 is so common, most adult-onset Type 1 cases are misdiagnosed early on as Type 2. C Peptide is the key to differentiating between Type 1 and Type 2 DM. When the insulin protein is made by the cell, the amino acid sequence is cleaved into 3 sequential components: the A chain, B chain, and the C peptide. The A and B chains are bound together, and the C peptide is cleaved away and eventually destroyed. The absence of fasting C Peptide is therefore used to diagnose Type 1 DM. If there is no fasting C Peptide, there is no insulin being made. THAT is Type 1 DM - little to no production of C peptide. Type 1 patients will need insulin. Lifestyle alone will not help. And they can get into blood sugar levels of 300 and much higher very quickly.

Episode Notes

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