HOMA-IR Calculator — Insulin Resistance

Estimate insulin resistance from a fasting blood draw using the HOMA-IR formula (fasting insulin x fasting glucose / 405), along with HOMA-%B beta-cell function and the QUICKI sensitivity index.

Quick Facts

Formula
HOMA-IR = (insulin x glucose) / 405
Insulin in uIU/mL, glucose in mg/dL; divide by 22.5 instead if glucose is in mmol/L.
Sample needed
Single fasting blood draw
Both insulin and glucose should come from the same fasting sample, typically after an 8-12 hour fast.

Your Results

Calculated
HOMA-IR
-
Insulin resistance index
HOMA-%B
-
Estimated beta-cell function
QUICKI
-
Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index
Glucose used
-
Converted to mg/dL for the formula

Ready

Enter fasting insulin and fasting glucose from the same blood draw, then calculate.

About the HOMA-IR Calculator — Insulin Resistance

HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance) is a widely used arithmetic estimate of insulin resistance calculated from a single fasting blood draw. Developed by Matthews and colleagues in 1985, it uses fasting insulin and fasting glucose to approximate how much insulin the body needs to keep blood glucose steady - the more insulin required, the more resistant the tissues are considered to be.

The formula

HOMA-IR = (fasting insulin in uIU/mL x fasting glucose in mg/dL) / 405. If glucose was measured in mmol/L, the accepted equivalent is HOMA-IR = (fasting insulin x fasting glucose in mmol/L) / 22.5. Both forms produce the same number; this calculator converts a mmol/L entry to mg/dL first (multiplying by 18.0182) and then applies the 405 divisor, so results are consistent regardless of which unit you enter.

HOMA-%B and QUICKI

The same two lab values also feed two related indices. HOMA-%B estimates beta-cell function as 360 x fasting insulin / (fasting glucose in mg/dL - 63), expressed as a percentage of a reference population's function. QUICKI (Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index) is 1 / (log10(fasting insulin) + log10(fasting glucose in mg/dL)); it compresses the same values logarithmically and tends to correlate better with clamp-based insulin sensitivity measures in some studies.

Putting the result in context

Research commonly cites a HOMA-IR under 1.0 as optimal insulin sensitivity, roughly 1.0 to 1.9 as a typical fasting value, 2.0 to 2.9 as an early or mild signal of insulin resistance, and 3.0 or above as a stronger signal. These bands vary between labs, populations, and the specific insulin assay used, so treat them as reference points rather than a fixed diagnostic line - a single measurement is also more variable than an average of two or three fasting draws.

When to consult a professional

This calculator performs the standard HOMA-IR, HOMA-%B, and QUICKI arithmetic for education and self-tracking. It is not a diagnosis. Insulin resistance and beta-cell function are best interpreted by a healthcare provider alongside your full history, other labs, and repeated measurements over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HOMA-IR formula?
HOMA-IR equals fasting insulin in microIU per mL multiplied by fasting glucose in mg per dL, divided by 405. If glucose is measured in mmol per L, the divisor is 22.5 instead. Both versions of the formula give the same HOMA-IR value; this calculator converts mmol per L to mg per dL automatically so it always uses the 405 form internally.
What HOMA-IR value indicates insulin resistance?
There is no single universal cutoff because normal ranges vary by population, age, and the insulin assay used. Research commonly treats a HOMA-IR under 1.0 as optimal insulin sensitivity, 1.0 to 1.9 as typical for a healthy fasting state, 2.0 to 2.9 as an early or mild signal of insulin resistance, and 3.0 or higher as a stronger signal of insulin resistance. These bands are reference points from the literature, not a diagnosis.
What are HOMA-%B and QUICKI?
HOMA-%B estimates pancreatic beta-cell function as a percentage of a reference population, calculated as 360 times fasting insulin divided by (fasting glucose in mg per dL minus 63). QUICKI, the Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index, is 1 divided by the sum of the base-10 logarithm of fasting insulin and the base-10 logarithm of fasting glucose in mg per dL. Both are alternative ways to summarize the same fasting insulin and glucose values.

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