HOMA-IR Calculator
Compute HOMA-IR from fasting insulin and glucose to screen for insulin resistance — the metabolic precursor to type-2 diabetes.
What is HOMA-IR?
The Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) was introduced by Matthews et al. in 1985 as a simple, blood-test-only way to estimate insulin resistance without an oral glucose tolerance test. Higher values indicate the pancreas is producing more insulin to maintain the same blood-glucose level — a key marker of metabolic dysfunction.
How is it calculated?
HOMA-IR = (fasting insulin in μU/mL × fasting glucose in mg/dL) / 405. Common interpretation: < 1 high sensitivity, 1–2 healthy, 2–2.9 early resistance, ≥ 2.9 significant resistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is HOMA-IR diagnostic?
- No — it is a screening tool. Diagnosis uses OGTT or HbA1c.
- How can I lower HOMA-IR?
- Weight loss, resistance training, sleep and reducing refined carbs.
- Why fasting?
- Without food, insulin and glucose stabilise to a baseline.