Fructosamine Test

The fructosamine blood test checks your average blood sugar level for the past 2-3 weeks. It also helps in monitoring and creating a treatment plan for diabetic people. Humans need glucose to produce energy for their body functions. It works by combining sugar with the protein present in the blood to form a glycated protein; this process is called glycation. If the amount of glucose rises in the blood, more protein will combine with the glucose, resulting in the formation of more glycated proteins. One of the major proteins present in the blood is haemoglobin. When it combines with glucose, it results in the formation of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Haemoglobin also combines with albumin, another major protein in the blood, to form fructosamine. The measurement of the glycated proteins provides an accurate picture of glucose present in the body. Cells in our blood live in our body for about 120 days. Therefore, the glycated haemoglobin represents the average blood glucose level of about 2-3 months. The test is known as the glycated haemoglobin test. The other blood protein lives in our body for about 14-21 days. So, the glycated protein gives a measurement of the average blood glucose level of 2-3 weeks. The test used for this measurement is known as the fructosamine test. In short, the test measures blood glucose in diabetic people. Please note it is not a screening test but is used when other tests may not be reliable. The fructosamine test is less commonly used than the glycated haemoglobin test. It is useful in conditions where one cannot use glycated haemoglobin tests like sickle cell anaemia, where the shape of RBC is different. The result of the fructosamine test is also helpful during the pregnancy of a diabetic female. In pregnancy, body hormones frequently change, which can trigger a change in sugar levels. Therefore, it is important to monitor the sugar levels and change the medications accordingly. Symptoms that indicate high sugar levels are blurred visions, headache, hunger, drowsiness, dry mouth, bloating, shortness of breath, vomiting and confusion. A high sugar level for a very long time can cause heart attack, stroke, loss of vision, damage to eyes, kidneys and other nerve problems. It can also delay the healing of wounds. The results of the fructosamine test and other sugar tests can help the doctor with a treatment plan. The International Diabetes Federation has found that there were around 72.9 million people with diabetes in India in 2017. It is estimated that there will be around 134 million cases by 2045. The cases are more in urban cities than rural areas, making it essential to conduct frequent fructosamine tests.