Glycosylated hemoglobin and fructosamine. Indicators of glycemic control in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus.

In 50 gravidas with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, mean preprandial whole blood glucose levels over a two-week period were compared with serum glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fructosamine values. Although there was a statistically significant correlation between mean glucose levels and both HbA1c (r = .44, P less than .01) and fructosamine (r = .37, P less than .01), the wide range of HbA1c and fructosamine observed at all levels of mean blood glucose limited the usefulness of those assays in the management of pregnant diabetics.