Glycosylated Serum Proteins

Serum proteins, like hemoglobin, combine with glucose to form glycosylated products. Testing these glycosylated products can give information about your glucose control over shorter periods of time than testing glycosylated hemoglobin.

One common test is the fructosamine test. It gives information on your glucose status over a one- to two-week period. High values mean your blood glucose was high over the past two weeks. This test is good for watching short-term changes in your glucose status during pregnancy or after major changes in your therapy. There is no general guideline for when to use this test. Talk to your doctor about whether this test is right for you.

If you have any other disease that can change your serum proteins or if you have large amounts of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in your diet, these tests may give wrong values.