Costs of the glucose tolerance test
If there is no medical justification for performing the glucose tolerance test, the costs can be up to 20 euros. Otherwise, the costs are usually covered by health insurance. For pregnant women the test is not liable to pay costs in the context of the antenatal check-ups since 2012, if they have previously performed the pre-test (50 g glucose test).
The pre-test provides initial indications of whether gestational diabetes is present. Only if the pre-test is abnormal does the health insurance company cover the costs of the subsequent glucose tolerance test (75 g glucose test). Many doctors recommend that pregnant women take the glucose tolerance test directly. However, this is actually not medically justified, but provides the patients with their own costs.
Is it possible to perform the glucose tolerance test yourself?
There are already attempts to introduce the glucose tolerance test for home use. However, since the test is complex and there can be many mistakes in its implementation, a visit to a doctor is necessary. The family doctor or gynecologist often performs the glucose tolerance test.
What are alternatives to the glucose tolerance test?
Alternatives to the glucose tolerance test are as follows:
- Determination of fasting blood sugar The blood sugar is determined in the fasting state. A few drops of blood are sufficient. The blood sugar should be below 100 mgdl.
Blood sugar values above 126 mgdl indicate diabetes mellitus.
- Determination of long-term blood glucose (HbA1c) This value is also known as HbA1c value. With this you can determine the blood sugar level of the last three months. This requires a blood sample to be taken from the vein. If the HbA1c value is above 6.5%, diabetes mellitus is most likely present.
