Homeā€ŗCalculatorsā€ŗHealthā€ŗHOMA-IR Calculator

HOMA-IR Calculator

Health

Calculate HOMA-IR from fasting glucose and fasting insulin levels to estimate insulin resistance, with reference categories for interpreting your result.

Fasting Glucose
mg/dL
70300
Fasting Insulin
ĀµIU/mL
150

Both values should come from the same fasting blood draw (at least 8 hours without food) for an accurate result.

HOMA-IR

0

Category

ā€”

For informational purposes only. Reference cutoffs vary by lab and population ā€” discuss your result with a healthcare provider.

What is a HOMA-IR?

A HOMA-IR Calculator estimates insulin resistance using the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance, a formula developed by Matthews et al. in 1985 that combines fasting glucose and fasting insulin from a single blood draw. Unlike fasting glucose alone, which can appear normal even when insulin resistance is developing, HOMA-IR reveals when the body is compensating with elevated insulin output to keep glucose in a normal range.

This calculator applies the standard formula ā€” fasting glucose times fasting insulin, divided by 405 ā€” and maps the result to general reference categories. It pairs well with the QUICKI Calculator, which uses the same two inputs but a different mathematical transformation, and with the A1c Calculator for a longer-term view of glucose control.

How to use this HOMA-IR calculator

  1. Obtain your Fasting Glucose value in mg/dL from a fasting blood test (typically after at least 8 hours without food).
  2. Obtain your Fasting Insulin value in ĀµIU/mL from the same fasting blood draw.
  3. Enter the Fasting Glucose value into the calculator.
  4. Enter the Fasting Insulin value into the calculator.
  5. Review the HOMA-IR result and its Insulin Resistance Category, and discuss the result with a healthcare provider for personalized interpretation.

Formula & Methodology

HOMA-IR = (Fasting Glucose [mg/dL] Ɨ Fasting Insulin [ĀµIU/mL]) Ć· 405

This is the original Matthews et al. formula (Diabetologia, 1985). The constant 405 applies specifically when glucose is measured in mg/dL; formulas using mmol/L glucose use a divisor of 22.5 instead.

Commonly cited reference bands: below 1.0 is optimal insulin sensitivity, 1.0-1.9 is normal, 2.0-2.9 suggests early insulin resistance, and 2.9 or above suggests significant insulin resistance.

Worked example: for a fasting glucose of 100 mg/dL and fasting insulin of 10 ĀµIU/mL:
- HOMA-IR = (100 Ɨ 10) Ć· 405 = 2.47
- A HOMA-IR of 2.47 falls in the Early insulin resistance range (2.0-2.9).

Frequently Asked Questions

HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance) is a formula that estimates insulin resistance from a single fasting blood sample, using fasting glucose and fasting insulin together. It was developed by Matthews et al. in 1985 and remains one of the most widely used insulin resistance indices in both research and clinical screening.
HOMA-IR is calculated as fasting glucose in mg/dL multiplied by fasting insulin in ĀµIU/mL, divided by 405. The 405 constant is specific to glucose measured in mg/dL ā€” formulas using mmol/L glucose divide by 22.5 instead.
General reference ranges suggest a HOMA-IR below 1.0 reflects optimal insulin sensitivity, roughly 1.0-1.9 is considered normal, 2.0-2.9 suggests early insulin resistance, and 2.9 or higher suggests significant insulin resistance. These cutoffs vary somewhat by population, lab assay, and study, so they should be treated as general guidance rather than fixed diagnostic thresholds.
Fasting glucose alone can appear normal even when the body is compensating with elevated insulin production, so HOMA-IR combines both values to reveal that compensatory pattern. A high fasting insulin alongside normal or high glucose is a classic sign of developing insulin resistance that glucose testing alone would miss.
A high HOMA-IR suggests your body needs more insulin than typical to manage blood glucose, a pattern associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease over time. It does not by itself diagnose any condition and should be interpreted alongside other clinical findings.
Both HOMA-IR and the [QUICKI Calculator](/quicki-calculator/) use the same two inputs ā€” fasting glucose and fasting insulin ā€” but QUICKI applies a logarithmic transformation that some research suggests behaves more consistently across a wider range of values. HOMA-IR moves in the opposite direction of insulin sensitivity: higher HOMA-IR means more resistance, while higher QUICKI means more sensitivity.
Yes ā€” both the glucose and insulin measurements must come from the same fasting blood draw, typically after at least 8 hours without food, since eating raises both values and would distort the calculation. Follow your lab's specific fasting instructions for accurate results.
No ā€” HOMA-IR is a research and screening index, not a standalone diagnostic test. A qualified healthcare provider should interpret your HOMA-IR result alongside your full clinical history, other lab work, and established diagnostic criteria for insulin resistance, prediabetes, or diabetes.
Higher body fat, particularly abdominal fat, is strongly associated with elevated HOMA-IR because excess fat tissue can interfere with normal insulin signaling. Tools like the [BMI Calculator](/bmi-calculator/) provide complementary context, though HOMA-IR itself is calculated independently of weight or BMI.
Weight management, regular physical activity, improved sleep, and dietary changes such as reducing refined carbohydrates are commonly associated with improved insulin sensitivity and lower HOMA-IR in research studies. Any lifestyle changes for managing insulin resistance should be discussed with a healthcare provider for a personalized plan.
Also known as
insulin resistance calculatorHOMA IR formulafasting insulin glucose ratioinsulin resistance indexHOMA-IR score