insulin is a hormone how can it be deteted if the body produces it?

Answer 1

There is a lab test that detects something called C-peptide. C-peptide is a byproduct of insulin production. Proinsulin is produced by the body and then undergoes proteolytic cleavage to be converted into insulin. So for every molecule of insulin that is produced a molecule of C-peptide is produced. Thus we have an indirect way of measuring the amount of insulin that is being produced.

Answer 2

Doing blood glucose testing daily, in a series or doing a Glucose Tolerance Test over a set period of time. The simpliest answer is if the glucose level is high then there isn't enough insulin (hyperglycemia), if the level is normal, 80-110, (depending upon your MD's criteria, it varies from doctor to doctor) then your ok, if it is low then there is too much insulin (hypoglycemia). Hope this helps.

Answer 3

What we look for is insulin's byproduct -- glucose. If the body is producing an over abundance of insulin the result is hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. The insulin will metabolize the bodies use of sugars at an abnormally high rate.

The lack of insulin produces hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. Glucose spills into the urine, instead of metabolizing as it should. The result of this malfunction is blindness, stroke, heart disease, and limb amputation.

Answer 4

well insulin is an endogenous hormone produced in the Beta cells of langerhans of pancreas.
it can also be given exogenously.
the difference between the two, i.e. one produced internally and once given externally is that, the endogenous insulin poduction results in a particular peptice called PROTEIN C. what happens is that whenever there is an increased level of glucose in the body, an enzyme acts on a polypeptide containing bound INSULIN. That results in FREE INSULIN and PROTEIN C.

PROTEIN C can be measured in the blood and the amount obtained gives an idea of the ENDOGENOUS INSULIN.