Abstract
The present study was performed to assess the clinical usefulness of serum fructosamine as an indicator of blood glucose control. Diabetic outpatients with stable blood glucose levels were examined for correlations between hemoglobin A1 (HbA1), fasting and postprandial blood glucose and fructosamine levels. In addition, 11 poorly-controlled diabetic inpatients who were being brought under control with strict conventional insulin therapy were examined to determine whether parallel changes occur in fructosamine and blood glucose levels. Fructosamine showed the best correlaton with HbA1, in diabetic outpatients with stable blood glucose levels (p<0.05) In poorly controlled diabetic inpatients, one week after insulin treatment, fructosamine had decreased significantly concomitant with the decrease in mean blood or urinary glucose values (p<0.01). Return of fructosamine to stable, near-normal levels was slower (2 weeks) than stabilization of blood glucose levels. A significant decrease in fructosamine, but not in HbA1, occurred after four weeks of treatment of poorly controlled diabetics. Fructosamine levels were stable, i.e. showed no transient increase, in response to the normal increase in postprandial blood glucose in well-controlled diabetic patients. These results indicate that the serum fructosamine level is a useful indicator for the averae blood glucose level from the preceding several days to about 2 weeks.
