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ROLE OF BETA CELLS IN T1D

BETA-CELL FUNCTION CAN IMPACT THE COURSE OF PATIENTS' JOURNEYS WITH AUTOIMMUNE T1D1-6
 

BETA-CELL FUNCTION GOES BEYOND INSULIN7,8

 

Besides producing insulin, beta cells help maintain glucose homeostasis, impacting various organs and systems in the body by:

  • Efficiently suppressing glucose production in the liver3,9,10

  • Facilitating uptake of glucose in the muscles10,11

  • Helping maintain glucose homeostasis7

An animated beta cell with a happy expression

BETA CELLS ARE KEY CONTRIBUTORS TO T1D PROGRESSION

Beta-cell function, as measured by C-peptide, can indicate patients' level of remaining beta-cell activity and help determine the extent of autoimmune T1D progression.12

T1D=type 1 diabetes.

Some of us are better.. than none of us!; A cluster of animated beta cells with worried expressions

SOME FUNCTIONAL BETA CELLS ARE BETTER THAN NONE

It has been observed that in T1D even *low beta-cell function can produce adequate endogenous insulin to maintain glycemic control.1-5,14

*The C-peptide threshold for clinically meaningful beta-cell function is 0.2 pmol/mL or ≥0.6 ng/mL. 6,15† 
†Based on a conversion from 0.2 pmol/mL using the molecular weight of 3020.3 g/mol for C-peptide. 3,6,12,16

References

  1. Jeyam A, Colhoun H, McGurnaghan S, et al; SDRNT1BIO Investigators. Clinical impact of residual C-peptide secretion in type 1 diabetes on glycemia and microvascular complications. Diabetes Care. 2021;44(2):390-398.

  2. Gubitosi-Klug RA, Braffett BH, Hitt S, et al; DCCT/EDIC Research Group. Residual β cell function in long-term type 1 diabetes associates with reduced incidence of hypoglycemia. J Clin Invest. 2021;131(3):e143011.

  3. Palmer JP, Fleming GA, Greenbaum CJ, et al. C-peptide is the appropriate outcome measure for type 1 diabetes clinical trials to preserve beta-cell function: report of an ADA workshop, 21-22 October 2001. Diabetes. 2004;53(1):250-264.

  4. Lachin JM, McGee P, Palmer JP; DCCT/EDIC Research Group. Impact of C-peptide preservation on metabolic and clinical outcomes in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial. Diabetes. 2014;63(2):739-748.

  5. Steffes MW, Sibley S, Jackson M, Thomas W. β-cell function and the development of diabetes-related complications in the diabetes control and complications trial. Diabetes Care. 2003;26(3):832-836.

  6. Leighton E, Sainsbury CAR, Jones GC. A practical review of C-peptide testing in diabetes. Diabetes Ther. 2017;8(3):475-487.

  7. Podobnik B, Korošak D, Skelin Klemen M, et al. β cells operate collectively to help maintain glucose homeostasis. Biophys J. 2020;118(10):2588-2595.

  8. Röder PV, Wu B, Liu Y, Han W. Pancreatic regulation of glucose homeostasis. Exp Mol Med. 2016;48(3):e219.

  9. Lewis GF, Carpentier AC, Pereira S, et al. Direct and indirect control of hepatic glucose production by insulin. Cell Metab. 2021;33(4):709-720.

  10. Aronoff SL, Berkowitz K, Shreiner B, et al. Glucose metabolism and regulation: beyond insulin and glucagon. Diabetes Spectr. 2004;17(3):183-190.

  11. Bekier M, Szkutnik-Fiedler D, Uruska A. Insulin resistance and iatrogenic hyperinsulinemia in type 1 diabetes—norm or complication? Role of metformin in type 1 diabetes mellitus. Acta Pol Pharm. 2023;80(4):531-539.

  12. Pociot F. Capturing residual beta cell function in type 1 diabetes. Diabetologia. 2019;62(1):28-32.

  13. Sørensen JS, Johannesen J, Pociot F, et al; Danish Society for Diabetes in Childhood and Adolescence. Residual β-cell function 3-6 years after onset of type 1 diabetes reduces risk of severe hypoglycemia in children and adolescents. Diabetes Care. 2013;36(11):3454-3459.

  14. Nathan DM. Realising the long-term promise of insulin therapy: the DCCT/EDIC study. Diabetologia. 2021;64(5):1049-1058.

  15. Jones AG, Hattersley AT. The clinical utility of C-peptide measurement in the care of patients with diabetes. Diabet Med. 2013;30(7):803-817.

  16. Latres E, Greenbaum CJ, Oyaski ML, et al. Evidence for C-peptide as a validated surrogate to predict clinical benefits in trials of disease-modifying therapies for type 1 diabetes. Diabetes. 2024;73(6):823-833.

MAT-US-2504443-v3.0-03/2026