Fructosamine or the Gluco Protein Test

Monitoring of blood glucose in a diabetic requires him to undergo a number of tests and they vary in time, style and duration. Each of these tests has a special significance and none of them can be ruled out. Apart from the normal blood and urine tests, new tests keep coming up that make the diagnosis easier.

One such test that has been recently developed is the Fructosamine test. It tests the linking of blood sugar onto protein molecules in the blood stream. What makes this test all the more dependable is the fact that it shows the blood sugar levels not for the moment, but for the past three weeks. It tests all the proteins found in the fluid part of the blood (called serum) that form specific bonds (called ketamine linkages) with glucose molecules in the bloodstream. The Fructosamine test primarily measures glycosylated albumin, but it also measures other glycosylated serum proteins such as immunoglobulins and transferrin.

Advantages of the Test:

The main advantage of the Fructosamine test is that it can detect overall changes in blood glucose control of the last weeks rather than months. These tests indicate how changes that have been made to a diabetes treatment plan work. Based on the results of these tests adjustments can be made.

When compared to the Glycohemoglobin test (measures glucose control for the past 2-3 months) the levels of Fructosamine change faster. Therefore, it can detect changes in diabetic control earlier. In fact it is complimentary to the Glycohemoglobin test as both of them reflect glucose control.

Fructosamine level

The fructosamine level indicates the amount of fructosamine per unit of blood. There are two different kinds of tests currently available. One measures fructosamine in millimoles per liter of blood (mmol/liter); the second measures micromoles per liter (µmol/liter).

The Mode of action:

Referred to as GlucoProtein test, this test works on a coloring sample. When the patient's blood sample is placed on the GlucoProtein test strip, the glycosylated proteins in the sample react with a special dye to form a purple substance. In much the same way as most blood glucose meters work, the meter "reads" the color on the test strip and translates it into a numerical value - all in four minutes. A reading below 310 µmol/liter is considered acceptable. A reading over 380 µmol/liter is very high and indicates a change in the diabetes treatment plan. The GlucoProtein test has been shown to be quick, accurate, and easy to use.

Utility

The Fructosamine test can show changes in glycemic control in less than a month, therefore it is especially useful for evaluating recent changes in a diabetes treatment plan, such as switching to a new diabetes medicine. It could be very helpful if people with diabetes who do not closely monitor their blood sugar levels with multiple self-tests throughout the day include a once-a-week fructosamine home test in their diabetes-monitoring plan. But keep in mind that once-a-week testing should not be a substitute for daily monitoring.

A Warning

The Fructosamine test can be a very helpful tool for diabetic patients but they should not let it replace their blood glucose self-monitoring, regular HbA1c tests, or regular visits to the doctor.

A fructosamine reading in the normal range doesn't necessarily mean that blood sugar levels have always been in the normal range. There is a possibility that someone with extremely high or low blood sugar levels might still have fructosamine levels in the normal range. Therefore it is important that blood glucose self-monitoring to detect peaks and valleys in blood sugar is done throughout the day. Some diabetes experts feel that an extremely low fructosamine level, like an extremely low glycosylated hemoglobin level, puts people at too great a risk for developing hypoglycemia. To determine the most appropriate level, speak to the concerned doctor about setting a desirable fructosamine range.

Home fructosamine testing offers new information not supplied by blood glucose self-monitoring or Glycosylated Hemoglobin testing. While it should not be relied on as the sole indicator of blood glucose control, it can offer a valuable piece of the puzzle, especially for people making changes in their diabetes-care regimen.

Monitoring Blood Glucose Levels

There are several ways to monitor blood glucose levels, including using a home blood glucose meter, measuring fructosamine levels at home or in a lab, and measuring glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in a laboratory. While the results from each test provide only some details in the big scheme of blood glucose control, together they provide a more complete picture of how well your diabetes self-care regimen is working and whether you need to make changes in your daily routine.

An average blood glucose number does not show the highs and lows that might have occurred during a particular time interval. But if higher values are maintained or occur frequently over a long period of time, the average for that period will be higher.