PROBLEMS IN THE ASSESSMENT OF GLYCEMIC CONTROL IN DIABETES-MELLITUS

The measurement of glycated haemoglobin and serum fructosamine to asse ss the recent glycaemic control of diabetic patients has become well e stablished. Likewise, the monitoring of blood glucose using glucose te st strips and meters has become popular in both the community and in t he hospital inpatient environment. However, despite improvements in th e methods of analysis, clinically inaccurate assessments of glycaemia can still occur. Specific problems such as the lack of standardization in assays are in the process of being resolved, but inherent difficul ties associated with these measures remain. Clinicians should be aware that these tests still need to be interpreted in conjunction with cli nical prudence. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.