What HOMA-IR estimates
HOMA stands for Homeostatic Model Assessment, a model published in 1985 that describes how fasting glucose and fasting insulin balance each other. When the body becomes resistant to insulin, the pancreas compensates by producing more of it to keep glucose in range. HOMA-IR turns this into one number: the higher it is, the more insulin the body needs to keep fasting glucose stable. It is widely used in research and sometimes in clinics to track insulin resistance, prediabetes and metabolic syndrome.
The formulas
- HOMA-IR = glucose (mmol/L) × insulin (µU/mL) ÷ 22.5
- Same in US units = glucose (mg/dL) × insulin (µU/mL) ÷ 405
- HOMA-B = 20 × insulin ÷ (glucose in mmol/L − 3.5), in %
- QUICKI = 1 ÷ (log insulin + log glucose in mg/dL)
Glucose converts with 1 mmol/L = 18 mg/dL.
Worked example
After an overnight fast, a blood test shows a glucose of 95 mg/dL and an insulin of 8 µU/mL.
- Glucose in mmol/L = 95 ÷ 18.016 = 5.27.
- HOMA-IR = 5.27 × 8 ÷ 22.5 = 1.87.
- HOMA-B = 20 × 8 ÷ (5.27 − 3.5) = 90%.
- QUICKI = 1 ÷ (log 8 + log 95) = 1 ÷ 2.881 = 0.347.
This profile is in the usual range for an insulin-sensitive adult.
Reading the result
| HOMA-IR | How the calculator reads it |
|---|---|
| Below 1 | Good insulin sensitivity |
| 1 to 1.9 | Usual range for adults |
| 1.9 to 2.9 | Possible early insulin resistance |
| 2.9 or more | Insulin resistance likely |
There is no universal cut-off. Thresholds published in different countries range from about 1.7 to 3.8, because insulin assays differ between laboratories and populations differ in body composition and ethnicity. Compare your result with the same laboratory over time rather than with a single number found online.
When HOMA-IR is not reliable
The model assumes stable fasting conditions. It is not meaningful if you take insulin, if glucose is very high, as in established diabetes, or if the sample was not truly fasting. QUICKI is mathematically related to HOMA-IR and gives the same ranking of people; values below about 0.33 are often read as reduced insulin sensitivity.
Lifestyle changes that improve insulin sensitivity, such as regular physical activity, weight loss when overweight and better sleep, usually lower HOMA-IR within a few months.
This calculator is for general information and education. It is not medical advice and does not replace the judgment of a doctor, nurse or pharmacist who knows the full clinical picture.