Fructosamine assay: an index of medium-term metabolic control parameters in diabetic disease.

The fructosamine levels and some metabolic control parameters were evaluated in 120 diabetics and in 60 controls. Higher levels of fructosamine were found in diabetics compared to normals (3.22 +/- 0.06 vs. 1.82 +/- 0.05 mmol/l; P less than 0.001). Positive correlations were found between fructosamine and metabolic control parameters in diabetic subjects. Moreover, non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects had better correlations. The study of fructosamine variation in relation to plasma glucose change showed that fructosamine levels were modified after at least 2 weeks of good metabolic control. In conclusion, the fructosamine assay could be a useful method for medium-term metabolic control evaluation.