Non-Linear Relationship Between Fasting C-Peptide and Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus - A Retrospective Study

Jicai Ma, Cong Han, Yuanyuan Lv, Hanqing Cai Department of Endocrinology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130041, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hanqing Cai, Department of Endocrinology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130041, People’s...

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Main Authors: Ma J, Han C, Lv Y, Cai H
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-04-01
Series:Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/non-linear-relationship-between-fasting-c-peptide-and-retinopathy-in-p-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DMSO
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author Ma J
Han C
Lv Y
Cai H
author_facet Ma J
Han C
Lv Y
Cai H
author_sort Ma J
collection DOAJ
description Jicai Ma, Cong Han, Yuanyuan Lv, Hanqing Cai Department of Endocrinology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130041, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hanqing Cai, Department of Endocrinology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130041, People’s Republic of China, Email caihanqing16@163.comBackground: Previous research has demonstrated that fasting C-peptide (FCP) serves as a protective element against diabetic retinopathy. But the protective effect of elevated FCP levels against diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains uncertain when these levels exceed specific thresholds. This research aimed to investigate the intrinsic link between FCP concentration and DR in individuals with T2DM.Methods: A total of 1661 individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes participated in this observational analysis, where DR was assessed as the primary outcome and categorized according to FCP levels. Curve fitting analysis and two-part linear regression models were applied to assess the relationship between DR and FCP, and exploratory analysis was conducted to identify the threshold.Results: Our study found a non-linear relationship between the two, as well as a threshold effect at an FCP of 4.11 ng/mL. Below the critical value, each 1 ng/mL increase in FCP levels was associated with a 24% lower risk of DR (OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.64– 0.86). Above the cutoff, the relationship did not reach statistical significance (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 0.87– 2.66).Conclusion: There was a nonlinear relationship between FCP level and DR risk, which was negatively correlated at first but stabilized at a lower level when FCP> 4.11 ng/mL.Keywords: diabetic retinopathy, type 2 diabetes mellitus, threshold effect, fasting C-peptide, diabetic retinopathy
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spelling doaj-art-e7bbcd4a384b4ebeb379f9b98e2ead172025-08-20T03:17:44ZengDove Medical PressDiabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity1178-70072025-04-01Volume 1810351045101858Non-Linear Relationship Between Fasting C-Peptide and Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus - A Retrospective StudyMa JHan CLv YCai HJicai Ma, Cong Han, Yuanyuan Lv, Hanqing Cai Department of Endocrinology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130041, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hanqing Cai, Department of Endocrinology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130041, People’s Republic of China, Email caihanqing16@163.comBackground: Previous research has demonstrated that fasting C-peptide (FCP) serves as a protective element against diabetic retinopathy. But the protective effect of elevated FCP levels against diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains uncertain when these levels exceed specific thresholds. This research aimed to investigate the intrinsic link between FCP concentration and DR in individuals with T2DM.Methods: A total of 1661 individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes participated in this observational analysis, where DR was assessed as the primary outcome and categorized according to FCP levels. Curve fitting analysis and two-part linear regression models were applied to assess the relationship between DR and FCP, and exploratory analysis was conducted to identify the threshold.Results: Our study found a non-linear relationship between the two, as well as a threshold effect at an FCP of 4.11 ng/mL. Below the critical value, each 1 ng/mL increase in FCP levels was associated with a 24% lower risk of DR (OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.64– 0.86). Above the cutoff, the relationship did not reach statistical significance (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 0.87– 2.66).Conclusion: There was a nonlinear relationship between FCP level and DR risk, which was negatively correlated at first but stabilized at a lower level when FCP> 4.11 ng/mL.Keywords: diabetic retinopathy, type 2 diabetes mellitus, threshold effect, fasting C-peptide, diabetic retinopathyhttps://www.dovepress.com/non-linear-relationship-between-fasting-c-peptide-and-retinopathy-in-p-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DMSOdiabetic retinopathytype 2 diabetes mellitusthreshold effectfasting c-peptidediabetic retinopathy
spellingShingle Ma J
Han C
Lv Y
Cai H
Non-Linear Relationship Between Fasting C-Peptide and Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus - A Retrospective Study
Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity
diabetic retinopathy
type 2 diabetes mellitus
threshold effect
fasting c-peptide
diabetic retinopathy
title Non-Linear Relationship Between Fasting C-Peptide and Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus - A Retrospective Study
title_full Non-Linear Relationship Between Fasting C-Peptide and Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus - A Retrospective Study
title_fullStr Non-Linear Relationship Between Fasting C-Peptide and Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus - A Retrospective Study
title_full_unstemmed Non-Linear Relationship Between Fasting C-Peptide and Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus - A Retrospective Study
title_short Non-Linear Relationship Between Fasting C-Peptide and Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus - A Retrospective Study
title_sort non linear relationship between fasting c peptide and retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus a retrospective study
topic diabetic retinopathy
type 2 diabetes mellitus
threshold effect
fasting c-peptide
diabetic retinopathy
url https://www.dovepress.com/non-linear-relationship-between-fasting-c-peptide-and-retinopathy-in-p-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DMSO
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