Understanding Fructosamine

[johnt]

Wilbur was having some strange readings so i took him in. The vet wanted to do either a glucose curve (we've done these before at home). or a fructosamine. The latter was recommended, but pretty danged expensive but I wanted to see how it came out and the doctor explained to me that a fructosamine is better because it gives us a better window into the last few weeks instead of just doing a curve at random.

We did the Fructosamine.

The results came in today. the doctor said results between 300 and 400 mean 'controlled' diabetes. Wilbur's was a 320.

She said it was good and that we were controlling it. That if we could get him on a better diet and lose weight we could get him lower.

Does that reading sound good to anyone that knows?

 

[FurBabiesMama]

On the chart I have, that is very good. It says 350-400 is excellent control for a regulated diabetic cat and 190-365 is the range for 'normal', non-diabetic cats.

 

[johnt]

Well great! I can't be unhappy about that!

Thank you!

 

[johnt]

FYI to mention what sparked the urgency here.

I checked Wilbur's blood the other day and 6 hours post injection it was at 263. I gave him his normal dose at 12 hours. Then checked him again at 10 hours post injection and his glucose was 75. had I not checked it i wouldn't have dosed him right. i got him again at 12 hours and it was only 163 so i waited till it got to 200.

That was a miracle. because wilbur NEVER lets me check him. he refuses to give me blood even though i've been working with him daily. i have to sneak the kit out of the room and put it together. if he even hears me moving it he runs and hides.

I'm getting there.

 

[Tuxedo Mom]

The one problem with fructosamine tests is that they only show an average of where the glucose has been over a 2 or 3 week period, If there has been a number of lower AND higher numbers during this time the fructosamine could show that the average reading is good while there has actually been a lot of highs and lows happening. Regular home testing...before each shot and a mid cycle reading will give a much clearer picture of what is happening in "real time". Fructosamine testing is useful with helping to diagnose diabetes in a kitty that has not started insulin treatment, but less useful in monitoring a kitty that has already started insulin treatment.