Fructosamine: what it is, when it is indicated and how to understand the result

Fructosamine is a blood test that allows you to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment in cases of diabetes, especially when recent changes have been made to the treatment plan, whether in the medications used or changes in lifestyle habits, such as diet or exercise, for example.

Generally, this test is used to evaluate changes in glucose levels over the last 2 or 3 weeks, but it is only done when it is not possible to monitor diabetes with the glycated hemoglobin test and, therefore, many people with diabetes may never need it. take a fructosamine test.

In many cases, this test can also be ordered during pregnancy, to frequently assess the pregnant woman’s sugar levels, as their needs vary throughout the pregnancy.

When is indicated

The fructosamine test to assess blood glucose levels is indicated when a person has changes in red blood cell and hemoglobin levels, which is common in cases of anemia. Therefore, it is not possible to assess blood glucose levels using glycated hemoglobin, as the levels of this blood component are altered.

Furthermore, the fructosamine test is indicated when the person has heavy bleeding, has recently undergone a blood transfusion or has low circulating iron levels. Therefore, using fructosamine instead of glycated hemoglobin is more effective in assessing glucose levels circulating in the body.

How the exam is carried out

The fructosamine test is quite simple, requiring only the collection of a small blood sample that is sent to the laboratory for analysis, with no preparation required.

In this type of test, the amount of fructosamine in the blood is assessed, a substance that is formed when glucose binds to blood proteins, such as albumin or hemoglobin. Therefore, if there is a lot of sugar in the blood, as happens in cases of diabetes, the fructosamine value will be higher, as more blood proteins will be linked to glucose.

Furthermore, as blood proteins have an average lifespan of just 20 days, the values ​​evaluated always reflect a summary of blood sugar levels over the last 2 to 3 weeks, allowing treatment changes made during that time to be assessed.

Normal values

Fructosamine reference values ​​in a healthy person can vary between 205 and 285 micromolecules per liter of blood. However, the reference value may vary depending on the laboratory, and it is important to follow the parameters indicated in the exam report.

What does the result mean

Changes in the results of the fructosamine test may indicate some situations:

• Alto: means that glucose has not been well controlled in recent weeks, indicating that the treatment is not having the desired effects or is taking time to show results. The higher the result, the worse the effectiveness of the implemented treatment.
• Low: it could mean that you are losing proteins through your urine and, therefore, the doctor may order other tests to confirm the result.

Regardless of the result, the doctor can always order other tests to identify whether glucose variations are due to treatment or other health problems, such as hyperthyroidism, for example.

Fructosamine results in the blood are not affected by the consumption of medicines, foods or the current blood glucose result.