Comparison of serum levels of fructosamine and erythrocyte sodium potassium ATPase (Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase) in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and non-gestational diabetes mellitus (non GDM) patients

Background: The study aims at the comparison and correlation of serum levels of fructosamine and erythrocyte Na⁺/ K⁺ ATPase in Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and Non Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (Non GDM). Methods: A total of 326 samples were divided into 4 groups. Pregnant women between the age group of 20- 40 years who gave samples for Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) were included as the subjects. Anonymized and left over fasting and 2 hours' samples were collected from biochemistry laboratory, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. Results: In the comparison of fructosamine levels in GDM and Non GDM, fructosamine was found to be significant (p value<0.001) in both fasting and 2 hours (G2) blood glucose condition. Na⁺/ K⁺ ATPase did not show any significant variation between the groups. Correlation was not significant between the parameters. Conclusions: Fructosamine showed significant increase when compared between the groups, whereas significant correlation is not obtained between the parameters. Thus, the use fructosamine as a diagnosis tool becomes inconclusive. Further studies must be carried out to identify a marker which reduces the interferences observed in fructosamine and to find out the exact relationship between hyperglycaemia and Na⁺/ K⁺ ATPase activity.