FRUCTOSAMINE AND GLYCATED HEMOGLOBIN IN THE ASSESSMENT OF LONG-TERM GLYCEMIC CONTROL IN DIABETES

Fructosamine and glycated haemoglobin were measured simultaneously in 147 children with diabetes. If glycated haemoglobin is considered as t he 'gold standard' for long term glycaemic control, then fructosamine is a poor indicator of actual glycated haemoglobin values, with wide 9 5% confidence (fiducial) limits. This shows that it is impossible to a ccurately predict glycated haemoglobin concentrations and therefore, b y implication, longer term glycaemic control, from measurements of fru ctosamine. As the major studies on the prevention of microvascular com plications in diabetes have used glycated haemoglobin levels to assess glycaemic control, it is suggested that this measurement should be us ed in all children with diabetes in preference to the measurement of f ructosamine.