Plasma fructosamine to evaluate metabolic control among women with gestational diabetes

Background: Metabolic control of diabetic pregnant women is assessed using glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and fasting blood sugar. Another glycated protein, namely fructosamine, can be an indicator of average glucose levels during the last three weeks. Aim: To evaluate plasma fructosamine as an indicator of glycemic control in women with gestational diabetes. Patients and Methods: Prospective cohort study of 41 pregnant women aged 30 to 37 years, with gestational and pre-gestational diabetes. Blood glucose, HbA1c, fructosamine were measured. Newborn weight, and other prenatal and postnatal variables, were used to evaluate the correlation between metabolic control and the presence or absence of macrosomia. Results: The correlation observed between fructosamine and fasting blood glucose (r = 0.627, p < 0.001) was superior to that of HbA1c and blood glucose (r = 0.516, p < 0.001). No association was observed between macrosomia and levels of fructosamine, nor between the other studied variables. Conclusions: Fructosamine levels were not associated with macrosomia, but it could be better for the evaluation of glycemic control in patients with gestational diabetes since it allows short-term monitoring. (Rev Med Chile 2011; 139: 1444-1450).