CalculatorsBlood sugarHOMA-IR calculator
HOMA-IR calculator
A rough read on how hard your body works to keep your glucose steady, from one fasting blood draw.
1.82
Lower
Lower numbers suggest your body needs less insulin to hold your glucose. There's no official cut-off.
- Fasting glucose
- 92 mg/dL5.1 mmol/L
- Fasting insulin
- 8.0 µIU/mL
See the working
HOMA-IR = glucose (mg/dL) × insulin (µIU/mL) ÷ 40592 × 8.0 ÷ 405 = 1.82Both have to be from the same fasting blood draw. It doesn't apply if you take insulin.
What HOMA-IR estimates
When cells respond less to insulin, the pancreas makes more to hold glucose steady. So a normal glucose with a high insulin can be an early sign, years before A1C moves. HOMA-IR puts those two fasting numbers into one estimate.
It was built for research on groups of people, so read one person's number as a pointer, not a verdict.
Why there's no single cut-off
Studies draw the line in different places, often between 2 and 3, and it shifts with age, ancestry and the insulin test used. Insulin results differ between labs too, so your own trend, measured at the same lab, says more than a single value.
Questions
Do I have to fast?
Yes, usually eight hours or more, and both numbers have to come from the same draw.
Can I use it if I take insulin?
No. Injected insulin makes the result meaningless. Some diabetes medicines change it too.
Why doesn't my doctor order this?
Insulin tests aren't standardised between labs, so guidelines don't use HOMA-IR for diagnosis. A1C and fasting glucose are the standard tests.
What lowers it?
In studies, regular movement, more sleep and losing excess weight tend to help. Your own numbers over time will show what's working for you.
Sources
Written by LifeFrom from the sources above, and not yet reviewed by a clinician. An estimate for your own understanding: it doesn't diagnose or treat anything, and it doesn't replace your doctor.
