Comparison of serum fructosamine and blood glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations for assessment of glycemic control in cats with diabetes mellitus

Objective-To correlate serum fructosamine concentrations with established m easures of glycemic control and to compare serum fructosamine and blood gly cosylated hemoglobin (GHb) concentrations as a means for assessing glycemic control in diabetic cats. Design-Longitudinal cohort study. Animals-26 healthy cats, 5 cats with stress-induced hyperglycemia, 15 untre ated diabetic cats, and 36 treated diabetic cats. Procedure-Control of glycemia was classified and monitored and serum fructo samine and blood GHb concentrations were measured for 12 poorly controlled diabetic cats before and after improving glycemic control, 8 well-controlle d treated diabetic cats before and after glycemic control deteriorated. and 5 cats with diabetes mellitus before and after onset of stress-induced hyp erglycemia. Results-Mean serum fructosamine and blood GHb concentrations were significa ntly higher in untreated diabetic cats, compared with healthy cats, and in 24 poorly controlled diabetic cats, compared with 12 well-controlled diabet ic cats. Mean serum fructosamine and blood GHb concentrations decreased sig nificantly in 12 poorly controlled diabetic cats after improving glycemic c ontrol and increased significantly in 8 well-controlled diabetic cats after glycemic control deteriorated. A significant stress-induced increase in me an blood glucose concentration was evident 12 hours after insulin administr ation, but not in 5 docile diabetic cats that became fractious. Clinical Implications-Serum fructosamine and blood GHb concentrations are c linically useful tools for monitoring control of glycemia in cats with diab etes mellitus.