[Glycosylated hemoglobin and glycosylated proteins for metabolic control of diabetes mellitus].

The target of therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus is preventing the development of late complications due to nearly normal blood glucose values. For the diagnosis and control of therapy in routine management of diabetes mellitus, determination of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fructosamine in addition to blood glucose values are of equal importance. This report stresses the clinical use, standard-determination methods and interpretation of glycated protein values. The problems of haemoglobin variants detected in Austria interfering with determination of HbA1c using the high performance liquid chromatography method and the suggestions of the American Diabetes Association for using glycated haemoglobin and fructosamine are discussed as well.