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HOMA-IR Calculator — Insulin Resistance Score

Calculate HOMA-IR from fasting glucose and fasting insulin, in mg/dL or mmol/L. See where your score falls vs optimal, normal, and insulin-resistant ranges.

Normal
HOMA-IR = 1.78

HOMA-IR = (Fasting Glucose [mg/dL] × Fasting Insulin [µIU/mL]) ÷ 405. Both values must be drawn while fasting (typically 8–12 hours) — non-fasting samples make this calculation meaningless. Cutoffs for "insulin resistant" are not universally standardized: NHANES data commonly uses ≥2.5, while some population-specific studies (particularly in Asian populations) use lower thresholds around 1.4–2.5. Always interpret alongside other metabolic markers and your lab's own reference range, not this score alone.
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Reference Values

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Category Range What It Means Status
Optimal ★ Below 1.0 Indicates high insulin sensitivity — the body needs relatively little insulin to manage fasting glucose. ★ Best
Normal 1.0 – 1.9 Typical, non-insulin-resistant range for most healthy adults. Good
Early / Borderline Insulin Resistance 1.9 – 2.9 Suggestive of developing insulin resistance. NHANES data commonly uses ≥2.5 as an insulin-resistance cutoff; some population-specific studies use lower thresholds. Okay
Significant Insulin Resistance 2.9 and above Strongly suggestive of clinically meaningful insulin resistance, often seen alongside prediabetes, PCOS, or metabolic syndrome. Poor

Source: Matthews DR et al. (1985) Diabetologia — original HOMA model; NHANES population reference data; cutoffs vary by population and lab — Asian population studies often use lower thresholds (roughly 1.4–2.5)

Worked Examples

Glucose 90 mg/dL, Insulin 4 µIU/mL

Fasting Glucose
90 mg/dL
Fasting Insulin
4 µIU/mL
HOMA-IR = 0.89 (Optimal)

(90 × 4) ÷ 405 = 0.89. High insulin sensitivity — well below the 1.0 optimal threshold.

Glucose 85 mg/dL, Insulin 5 µIU/mL

Fasting Glucose
85 mg/dL
Fasting Insulin
5 µIU/mL
HOMA-IR = 1.05 (Normal)

(85 × 5) ÷ 405 = 1.05. Within the typical normal range for a non-insulin-resistant adult.

Glucose 95 mg/dL, Insulin 12 µIU/mL

Fasting Glucose
95 mg/dL
Fasting Insulin
12 µIU/mL
HOMA-IR = 2.81 (Early/Borderline Insulin Resistance)

(95 × 12) ÷ 405 = 2.81. Above the commonly cited 2.5 NHANES insulin-resistance cutoff — worth discussing with a healthcare provider, especially alongside other metabolic risk factors.

Glucose 110 mg/dL, Insulin 20 µIU/mL

Fasting Glucose
110 mg/dL
Fasting Insulin
20 µIU/mL
HOMA-IR = 5.43 (Significant Insulin Resistance)

(110 × 20) ÷ 405 = 5.43. Well above the 2.9 threshold — strongly suggestive of clinically meaningful insulin resistance.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. 1

    Choose your glucose units

    Select mg/dL (standard in the US) or mmol/L (standard internationally).

  2. 2

    Enter fasting glucose and fasting insulin

    Both values must come from the same fasting blood draw — typically after 8–12 hours without food.

  3. 3

    Read your HOMA-IR score and category

    The result shows your calculated HOMA-IR and where it falls relative to optimal, normal, and insulin-resistant reference ranges.

What Each Value Means

HOMA-IR (index (unitless))
Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance — a mathematical estimate of insulin resistance derived from fasting glucose and fasting insulin, based on the Matthews et al. (1985) homeostasis model. Higher values indicate the body needs more insulin to maintain normal fasting glucose, suggesting reduced insulin sensitivity.
Fasting Insulin (µIU/mL)
The concentration of insulin in the blood after a fasting period, before any glucose intake stimulates additional insulin release. Elevated fasting insulin, even with normal glucose, can be an early sign of developing insulin resistance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you calculate HOMA-IR?
HOMA-IR = (Fasting Glucose [mg/dL] × Fasting Insulin [µIU/mL]) ÷ 405. If glucose is measured in mmol/L, use HOMA-IR = (Fasting Glucose [mmol/L] × Fasting Insulin [µIU/mL]) ÷ 22.5 instead — both formulas produce the same result, just adjusted for the different glucose unit scale. Both glucose and insulin must be drawn from the same fasting blood sample (typically after 8–12 hours without food).
What is a normal HOMA-IR score?
A HOMA-IR below 1.0 is generally considered optimal insulin sensitivity, and 1.0–1.9 is a typical normal range for healthy adults. There is no single universal cutoff for insulin resistance — NHANES population data commonly uses 2.5 or higher, while some population-specific research (particularly in Asian populations) uses lower thresholds around 1.4–2.5. Always check what reference range your specific lab uses.
Why isn't there one universal HOMA-IR cutoff for insulin resistance?
HOMA-IR reference ranges vary by population, ethnicity, body composition, and the specific insulin assay a lab uses (different assays can produce meaningfully different insulin values for the same blood sample). This is why major studies like NHANES publish their own population-specific cutoffs rather than one number applying globally — a HOMA-IR result should always be interpreted against your lab's stated reference range and other clinical context, not a single fixed threshold.
Does HOMA-IR need to be measured fasting?
Yes — both glucose and insulin must be drawn after a fasting period (typically 8–12 hours with no food or caloric beverages). Eating raises both blood glucose and insulin, which would make the HOMA-IR calculation meaningless since the model assumes a fasting steady-state relationship between the two.
What conditions is HOMA-IR used to assess?
HOMA-IR is commonly used to assess insulin resistance associated with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes risk, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), metabolic syndrome, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It's a research and clinical screening tool derived from a mathematical model, not a direct measurement — the gold-standard hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp test is more precise but far more invasive and impractical for routine use.