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C-peptide test and kind of odd pre-diabetic glucose numbers

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Posted 7/23/2023 12:32 AM (GMT 0)
The nurse practitioner didn’t even know what a C-peptide test was. So I got an order blood draw at the hospital for it. Lol.

1)I have been pre-diabetic for about 10 years now. I’ve recently learned on YouTube and other various areas of the World Wide Web that C-peptide insulin test is pretty important to do. Is this fairly new information? It sounds like a great test. Why is it not more popular?

I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes 10 years ago in my mid 40s. In those 10 years I improved my diet and cut out all junk food. I have used home test glucose meters for the last 10 years. as a teen I was raised on donuts in the morning , pancakes waffles, all that sugary stuff and we always had a lot of full sugar soft drinks in the refrigerator. I am thinking this didn’t help much for later on in life.

What I have noticed is that my stress levels more than the food type seems to elevate my glucose more than anything. This has been a stressful year for many people, including myself because of the cost of living increase, it’s just nuts. Covid, even though I got it, minimally, did not mentally bother me in stressful ways at all, so that had nothing to do with it.

For the last 10 years my goal is to keep my morning fasting glucose below 100. This late spring early summer , my fasting morning glucose has been going up again 105 to 120. One morning I was freaked out since it was 125.

****After I eat, it doesn’t really go above 130. But then it very seldom ever goes below 100 now. And the longer I sleep in in the morning the worse it gets. This does not make sense.

In the last week I have been eating keto. Chicken and pork with green beans and tomatoes. The only higher carbs I’m getting is from salt free, mixed nuts. All the new information I’ve read says this should work. I’ve only done this for a week yet I have not seen much improvements. So yes, I can eat keto and wake up the next morning with a fasting glucose of 110. Yet after my morning, keto or lunch, two hours after my glucose still doesn’t go over 130 which is good. But I won’t hardly ever go down under 100 anymore. Any idea what’s going on?

Post Edited (astroman) : 11/2/2023 9:24:59 AM (GMT-8)

Posted 7/23/2023 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
Oh …the highest A1C I’ve had which is probably 10 years ago was 6 in the USA. The lowest I’ve had was last fall 2022 at 5.4. One month ago it was 5.7 even though my fasting glucose is always over 100 lately.
Posted 7/23/2023 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
Well, once again, I just proved that stress has a lot to do with elevating my glucose. This morning fasting was 99.

Then I went out to work on my vehicle only to find out the repair is more difficult than what I thought. An hour after that went and checked my glucose with no food in me and it went up to 119. That was just from stress alone, I seem to have overactive adrenal glands which is a problem I don’t shake or anything I don’t look like it it’s just all completely internal.
Posted 7/23/2023 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
astroman, none of my primary doctors ever ordered the C-Peptide test for me. I know if there is a suspicion about being a type 1, then this test is important because it will confirm if the patient is or isn't producing insulin. So, normally a family doctor wouldn't order this test unless the A1c and daily blood sugar readings show something strange is going on like frequent critically high blood sugar.

On a daily basis, blood sugar can react to stress and sickness. So, if a person is angry, stressed, afraid, very sick, etc., then his blood sugar will be elevated. Also, our blood sugar normally rises by itself in the morning with or without food. This is the body trying to get us moving. Taking a fasting blood test later in the morning, like 10 or later, may result in higher blood sugar results.

Higher morning fasting may be because of high blood sugar levels before bed. Lower levels before bed obviously would have lower morning fasting when taken early (not very late morning).

I've been low carb for 17 years and it's a great way to control diabetes/blood sugar as well as lose weight - I'm in the so-called pre-diabetic range on average and I've totally lost over 30 lbs, but the body will get into its routine and plateau. Make sure you continue activity like cardio and strength training. When I was sidelined by hip problems and cut back on activity, I gained some weight back even though I didn't change my eating plan.

Good luck!
Posted 7/24/2023 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
"Oh …the highest A1C I’ve had which is probably 10 years ago was 6 in the USA. The lowest I’ve had was last fall 2022 at 5.4. One month ago it was 5.7 even though my fasting glucose is always over 100 lately. "

1) Update: my new A1c (different lab though) reflecting this new glucose level is 6.7 which you know is now "diabetes".

This is bumming me out. Im hoping this is just temporary (from my sudden onset recent stress that raises my blood glucose) and my new diet will correct this.
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2)My fasting c-peptide was 1.1, range is (.9 to 6.9)

Google also says you will have low C-peptide if you’re eating a low carb diet, which does not require that much insulin to begin with. So maybe that’s why I’m on the low side of normal.(?)

Post Edited (astroman) : 7/24/2023 9:11:16 AM (GMT-8)

Posted 7/24/2023 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, a low c-peptide is linked to the amount of insulin your pancreas produced in relation to need. If a person eats a lot of carbs (anyone, even non-diabetics), then the pancreas produces more insulin (and as a result, more c-peptide) to help metabolize the carbs. But if a person is not eating simple carbs, then insulin production isn't as great because there isn't a big need. So, that's probably why your c-peptide level seems like it's on the low side - but that's ok.
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