Glucose and insulin tests: 2026 prices, HOMA-IR and glucose tolerance test

indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index

Private fasting glucose and insulin tests cost around PLN 66 for insulin (typically PLN 63 ‑ 69) plus PLN 14 for glucose. A doctor uses these two results to calculate the HOMA-IR index. More extensive diagnostics, namely a glucose tolerance test with insulin measurements, cost more because insulin is measured several times.

Insulin is usually tested together with glucose, as either result alone provides little information. So instead of asking about the price of one test, it is better to calculate the cost of the full set: the insulin test, the glucose test and, if prescribed by a doctor, a glucose tolerance test or HbA1c. We collected prices from laboratory price lists and arranged them into options, from the most basic to the most comprehensive.

How much does a fasting insulin test cost?

A fasting insulin test at a private laboratory usually costs PLN 66, according to 4 price lists collected by indekscen.pl. Half of the prices fall within PLN 63 ‑ 69, while the lowest and highest prices are PLN 55 and PLN 81. The price includes drawing blood from a vein and measuring the insulin concentration.

Price differences for insulin level test are mainly due to the location of the blood collection centre. The same laboratory chain may charge one price in the centre of a large city and another in a smaller locality. Some chains also offer lower prices for tests purchased online and discounts on packages.

Are insulin and glucose tests the same thing?

An insulin test and a glucose test are two different measurements, although both can be performed using a single blood sample. Glucose shows how much sugar is circulating in the blood, while insulin shows how much hormone the pancreas must release to keep that sugar within the normal range. Normal glucose with high insulin may mean that the body is working harder than it should, which is why doctors order both tests together.

Here is a comparison of the tests most commonly included on the same referral:

Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.

The least expensive is fasting glucose test, which costs around PLN 14. An insulin test is several times more expensive because measuring the hormone requires a different laboratory method from measuring blood sugar. You can read more about fasting blood sugar in our article fasting glucose test.

How much do glucose and insulin tests cost together?

Fasting glucose and insulin tests together cost the sum of the two tests: around PLN 66 for insulin and around PLN 14 for glucose. Some laboratories sell them as a ready-made package for calculating HOMA-IR, usually with a small discount compared with buying the tests separately.

The cost of diagnostics depends on the range of tests ordered by the doctor. Typical sets are shown below:

Tests	What is included	Cost according to price lists
Fasting glucose	one blood draw, one measurement	PLN 14 ‑ 17
Fasting insulin	one blood draw, one measurement	PLN 63 ‑ 69
Glucose and insulin (HOMA-IR)	one blood draw, two measurements	insulin PLN 66 and glucose PLN 14
Glucose tolerance test (OGTT)	fasting glucose and glucose after 2 hours	PLN 40 ‑ 47
Insulin at three points during the test	three insulin measurements	around PLN 200, if charged separately
HbA1c glycated haemoglobin	one blood draw, no fasting required	PLN 56 ‑ 65

We calculated the ‘insulin at three points’ item as three times the median price of an insulin test. In practice, laboratories often sell a combined glucose and insulin tolerance test as one package, which may be cheaper, so compare the package price with the total cost of the individual tests before buying.

What happens during an insulin test?

An insulin test involves a standard blood draw from a vein in the crook of the elbow and takes a few minutes. You attend in the morning after fasting for 8 to 12 hours. You can drink water, but not coffee, juice or sweetened tea. It is best to avoid strenuous exercise and sudden dietary changes before the test, as these can affect the result.

If your doctor has ordered a glucose tolerance test with insulin measurements, the visit takes longer:

1. First fasting blood draw: glucose and insulin.
2. Drinking a glucose solution within a few minutes.
3. Further blood draws after one hour and two hours, as specified on the referral.
4. Waiting at the blood collection centre, without eating, walking around or smoking, as physical activity affects the result.

Set aside the whole morning for the test and bring something to eat afterwards. Discuss any regular medication with your doctor beforehand, as some medicines can affect blood sugar levels.

Is an insulin test covered by the NFZ?

An insulin test is free under the NFZ when ordered by a doctor as part of treatment, most commonly an endocrinologist or diabetologist. GPs have a limited list of tests they can order, and insulin is not always included, but they can readily order glucose, a glucose tolerance test and HbA1c. If you do not want to wait for a specialist appointment, you can buy an insulin test privately for around PLN 66, without a referral.

Before paying yourself, ask your doctor whether the insulin result is genuinely needed to make treatment decisions. Sometimes a less expensive glucose or HbA1c test is sufficient.

Is it worth testing your insulin level?

It is worth testing your insulin level when recommended by a doctor: if insulin resistance is suspected, if you are overweight, have polycystic ovary syndrome or your glucose is close to the limit of the normal range. An insulin result without a glucose test and medical assessment provides little information, as reference ranges vary between laboratories and interpretation depends on age, medication and other results.

We do not make diagnoses or provide reference ranges: always discuss your result with a doctor. We can, however, help you avoid overpaying for the tests themselves.

How can you avoid overpaying for insulin resistance tests?

• Compare blood collection centres within the same chain. The range from PLN 55 to PLN 81 for an insulin test is mainly due to centre location.
• Buy online. Some laboratories charge less for online orders than at reception.
• Check packages. A glucose and insulin set or a combined glucose and insulin tolerance test may cost less than the individual tests together.
• Have everything done with one blood draw. If your doctor has also ordered a full blood count or cholesterol test, have your blood drawn once. We cover lipid profile prices in our article private cholesterol testing and thyroid tests in TSH, FT3 and FT4 tests.
• Do not repeat tests unnecessarily. Doctors usually order a follow-up insulin test after several months of dietary changes or treatment, not every few weeks.

How much do a glucose tolerance test and HbA1c cost?

A private glucose tolerance test usually costs PLN 45, typically PLN 40 ‑ 47, as it includes two glucose measurements and around two hours at the blood collection centre. glucose tolerance test shows how the body handles a dose of sugar, rather than just its fasting state.

A glycated haemoglobin test costs around PLN 61. glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test shows the average blood sugar level over roughly the past three months and does not require fasting, making it useful for long-term monitoring. It answers a different question from an insulin test, so the doctor selects the tests to suit the situation.

„Cena badania Insulina waha się od 55,00 zł do 81,00 zł, w zależności od punktu pobrań.”

synevo.pl, 2025-09, source

„Cena badania insuliny w wybranych miastach rozpoczyna się od 63 zł.”

medicover.pl, source

„Badanie insuliny Kraków | od 72,00 zł”

medistore.com.pl, source

„Warszawa. Od 63,18 PLN.”

diag.pl, 2025-08, source

You can find more prices for laboratory tests and appointments in the health category. Unlike individual laboratory price lists, we provide the median from several chains, the range and the sources, making it easy to assess whether the price at your centre is typical.

The prices in this article come from public laboratory price lists and health articles. Each price on the how much does an insulin test cost page includes its source, date and a verbatim quotation.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an insulin test cost as part of diagnostics?

W dużych sieciach laboratoriów badanie insuliny kosztuje zwykle PLN 63 ‑ 69, a cena zależy od miasta i punktu pobrań. Najtańsze punkty w naszych źródłach biorą PLN 55, najdroższe PLN 81.

Do you need to fast before an insulin test?

Tak, badanie insuliny wykonuje się zwykle rano, na czczo, najczęściej po 8 do 12 godzinach bez jedzenia. Wtedy wynik można zestawić z glukozą, która kosztuje około PLN 14.

How long does an insulin test result take?

Wynik insuliny laboratoria wydają zwykle w ciągu jednego do dwóch dni roboczych, czasem tego samego dnia. Termin podaje punkt pobrań przy zakupie badania za około PLN 66.

Is HOMA-IR a separate test?

Nie, HOMA-IR to wskaźnik wyliczany ze wzoru na podstawie glukozy i insuliny na czczo. Płaci się za dwa oznaczenia: insulinę (około PLN 66) i glukozę (około PLN 14), a wynik interpretuje lekarz.

Can you have an insulin test without a referral?

Tak, badanie insuliny można kupić prywatnie bez skierowania w każdej sieci laboratoriów, zwykle za PLN 63 ‑ 69. Wynik warto potem omówić z lekarzem.

Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.

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