Fructosamine is useful to assess long-term glycaemic control in dogs and cats. It is a measure of plasma proteins which have undergone non-enzymatic glycation and is therefore related to the mean blood glucose concentration over the previous 1 – 3 weeks.

It is important that the fructosamine normal reference range is not used when monitoring diabetic patients as this is much lower. Results within the reference range usually indicate that the diabetic patient is likely to be experiencing significant periods of hypoglycaemia.

Haemolysed samples must not be submitted for the assay of fructosamine as this gives falsely elevated results.

Feline fructosamine levels greater than 550 μmol/L are consistent with poor diabetic control.
Canine fructosamine levels greater than 450 μmol/L are consistent with poor diabetic control.