C-peptide response to glucagon in diabetics with and without complications.

Beta cell function has been studied by measurement of C-peptide responses to intravenous glucagon in 11 diabetics with advanced complications and compared with nine long-term diabetics without complications. The majority had no C-peptide responses, but there was evidence of beta cell function in one patient from each group. These observations suggest that some factor other than continuing beta cell function is involved in the complications of insulin-requiring diabetics.