Fructosamine Blood Test

What is the purpose of this test?

Order this Fructosamine Blood Test to help understand how effectively diabetes is managed by estimating the glucose levels over the past two to three weeks. Fructosamine is a substance created when glucose binds to proteins. Monitoring fructosamine levels is an effective way to manage glucose levels in individuals with diabetes and prevent health complications that this condition can cause. 

Glucose is a sugar the human body uses as the primary energy source for cells. The body mainly gets glucose from the foods we eat through metabolization. The more elevated the amount of glucose in the blood, the more it will attach to proteins. The most abundant protein in the blood and the central part of the fructosamine measurement is albumin. Proteins circulate in the bloodstream for about 14 to 21 days, so the fructosamine test represents the average glucose levels over the last two to three weeks.

What is the difference between fructosamine and hemoglobin A1c tests?

Several tests, such as the commonly used hemoglobin A1c test, may be used to monitor blood glucose levels. The hemoglobin A1c test calculates the amount of glucose attached to hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells, and shows how effectively glucose levels have been controlled over the last two to three months.

A fructosamine test is a helpful alternative to the more widely used hemoglobin A1c test. This test may be used if an individual has a condition that makes the hemoglobin A1c test unreliable or if the healthcare provider wants to monitor blood glucose over a shorter period. However, individuals should note that since the fructosamine test only monitors a short period, it is not used to diagnose diabetes.

When should I order a Fructosamine Blood Test?

Individuals may order this Fructosamine Blood Test if they have a condition in which a hemoglobin A1c test will unreliable, such as:

• Blood loss or hemolytic anemia
• Sickle cell anemia or other hemoglobin variants
• Kidney failure (end-stage renal disease)
• Liver disease
• HIV infection 
• Undergone recent blood transfusions
• A recent change in medication or insulin
• Pregnancy