HOMA-IR Insulin Resistance Calculator

What HOMA-IR is

HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance) estimates how hard your body has to work to keep blood sugar normal. It was introduced by Matthews and colleagues in 1985 and uses two fasting blood tests taken at the same time:

HOMA-IR = fasting insulin (µIU/mL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL) ÷ 405
If glucose is in mmol/L, divide by 22.5 instead of 405.

Units

• Insulin in µIU/mL (the same as mIU/L). If your report shows pmol/L, divide by 6 (some labs use 6.945).
• Glucose in mg/dL. If your report shows mmol/L, multiply by 18.
• Both samples must be fasting (at least 8 hours without food).

How the number is read

There is no single agreed “normal” cut-off. Values depend on the insulin test used, ethnicity, age and body weight. As a rough guide used in many studies:

• Below 1.0: typical of good insulin sensitivity.
• 1.0–2.5: intermediate.
• Above 2.5: often taken to suggest insulin resistance (some studies use 2.0 or 2.9).

Limits

• HOMA-IR is mainly a research and screening measure. It is not used to diagnose diabetes or prediabetes; that is done with HbA1c, fasting glucose or a glucose tolerance test.
• It is not valid for people who inject insulin, and it is less reliable when blood sugar is very high.
• Insulin levels change a lot from day to day, so a single result is a rough estimate.

To see your long-term average glucose, try the HbA1c converter.

Educational estimate only. Please discuss your result with your doctor.