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Diabetes · Insulin resistance

HOMA-IR Calculator

Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance — from fasting insulin and glucose.

Your details

Fasting glucose

Both values must be from the SAME fasting blood sample for the formula to be valid.

HOMA-IR
1.33
< 1≥ 3
Within normal range

A HOMA-IR between 1.0 and 1.9 is commonly within reference range in adult populations, though cut-offs vary by assay and ethnicity.

Your numbers
Fasting insulin
6 µU/mL
Fasting glucose
90 mg/dL
Fasting glucose
5.0 mmol/L
HOMA-β (β-cell function)
81 %

HOMA-β is a companion proxy for pancreatic β-cell function from the same Matthews 1985 model. It is not diagnostic — reference ranges vary by assay and population.

What HOMA-IR measures

HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance) estimates whole-body insulin resistance from a single fasting blood draw of insulin and glucose. It was developed by Matthews et al. (1985) at Oxford as a research tool and has since become a common lightweight clinical proxy for insulin sensitivity, though the gold standard remains the euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp.

The formula

HOMA-IR = (Fasting Insulin [µU/mL] × Fasting Glucose [mg/dL]) / 405. When glucose is given in mmol/L, the denominator becomes 22.5. Both are mathematically equivalent — 405 ≈ 22.5 × 18.02.

Why fasting matters

The model assumes the body is in steady-state — no recent carbohydrate load, no physiological stress. That’s why both samples must be drawn after ≥ 8 hours of fasting from the SAME blood draw. A non-fasting HOMA-IR is not interpretable.

Not a diagnosis — a screening lens

HOMA-IR is not a diagnostic test for diabetes and there is no universal cut-off. Reference ranges vary by assay and ethnicity (Ascaso 2003 identified ~2.6 as the 90th percentile in a Spanish cohort; other cohorts differ). Treat the number as a lens for a clinician conversation — never as a label.

Category reference

CategoryRange
Optimal insulin sensitivity< 1.0
Within normal range1.0 – 1.9
Mild-to-moderate IR likely2.0 – 2.9
Significant IR likely≥ 3.0

Limitations & caveats

  • Not valid in people receiving exogenous insulin therapy.
  • Not valid in overt type 1 diabetes (severely low endogenous insulin).
  • Assay-dependent — insulin measurement varies between labs, so cut-offs shift too.
  • Cannot distinguish hepatic vs. peripheral insulin resistance.
  • A single value can be affected by illness, corticosteroid use, or a recent large carbohydrate load.
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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Clinical Interpretation

Within normal rangeNormal

A HOMA-IR between 1.0 and 1.9 is commonly within reference range in adult populations, though cut-offs vary by assay and ethnicity.

Common causes
  • •Typical for a metabolically healthy adult population
Lifestyle considerations
  • •Protect the routines you already have
  • •Focus on sustainable movement + protein + sleep basics
When to consult a healthcare professional

Routine follow-up with your clinician per usual — no specific action from this value.

Medical Evidence

How we ground the HOMA-IR

Grade A · Clinical guidelines & meta-analysesLast reviewed Feb 12, 2026
Named clinical guidelines
  • Matthews DR et al. (1985) Diabetologia — original HOMA description
  • Ascaso JF et al. (2003) Diabetes Care — HOMA-IR cut-offs in a Spanish population
  • Bonora E et al. (2000) Diabetes Care — HOMA-IR validation vs. euglycaemic clamp
References

The Evidence Foundation

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