Although glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) has become the key biochemical marker of long-term glycaemic control, analytical method-dependent differences in results can occur when haemoglobin variants are present or HbA(1c) is reduced by decreased red cell survival. When the measured HbA(1c) level is discordant with the patient's blood glucose measurements and clinical status, fructosamine is an alternative biochemical marker that can provide a more accurate estimate of the glycaemic control and enable clinicians to appropriately manage patients.