C-peptide suppression test and sulphonylurea-induced factitious hypoglycaemia

Abstract

Factitious hypoglycemia presents particular diagnostic difficulties but may occur as frequently as insulinoma. Failure of suppression of plasma C-peptide concentration during insulin-induced hypoglycemia is characteristic of insulinoma, C-peptide being a marker of endogenous insulin secretion. This report contrasts the results in two patients who underwent C-peptide suppression tests; one had an insulinoma and the other factitious hypoglycemia due to glibenclamide ingestion.