Insulin Resistance Calculator
Enter your fasting glucose and fasting insulin to calculate HOMA-IR, QUICKI, and glucose-to-insulin ratio simultaneously. All three indices from one set of lab values.
🧬 Multi-Index Resistance Calculator
Insulin Resistance Results
(normal < 2.0)
(normal > 0.339)
(normal > 7)
| Index | Your Value | Threshold | Interpretation |
|---|
Formulas Used
HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance) was developed by Matthews et al. (1985) and remains the most widely used clinical research index. QUICKI was proposed by Katz et al. (2000) as a more linear transformation with better separation in the normal range.
What insulin resistance actually means for your body
Insulin is the hormone that lets your cells take glucose out of the blood and use it for energy. With insulin resistance, those cells stop listening as well, so the same amount of insulin moves less sugar. Your pancreas answers by making more, and for a while that extra output keeps your glucose looking normal. The hidden cost is chronically high insulin — and it's that quiet, compensating effort, rather than your glucose reading, that this group of calculators is designed to detect.
Left unchecked, the pattern tends to progress. The pancreas eventually can't keep up, glucose begins to rise, and the door opens to prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, polycystic ovary syndrome, and the cardiovascular changes of metabolic syndrome. Catching the trend early is valuable precisely because the early stage is the most reversible.
Which insulin resistance index should you use?
No single number is perfect, which is why this tool shows several side by side. Each looks at the problem from a slightly different angle, and they're most convincing when they agree.
HOMA-IR
The most widely used research index. It needs fasting glucose and fasting insulin and rises as resistance worsens — simple, well-validated, and the usual first choice.
QUICKI
A log-transformed cousin of HOMA-IR that produces a steadier number and often tracks clamp studies closely. It falls as resistance increases.
Triglyceride-to-HDL ratio
A low-cost surrogate from a standard lipid panel — handy when a fasting insulin result isn't available, though it's less reliable in some ethnic groups.
Can insulin resistance be reversed?
In many people, especially when it's caught early, the answer is encouragingly yes. Insulin resistance is strongly tied to lifestyle, and it responds to the same steady changes that improve metabolic health overall: losing even a modest amount of excess weight, moving regularly (a short walk after meals is surprisingly effective), building muscle, cutting back on refined carbohydrates and sugary drinks, and protecting your sleep. Improvements register over weeks to months rather than days. Retest under the same fasting conditions to compare fairly, and use the indices as a way to track progress with your provider — not to self-diagnose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which insulin resistance index is most accurate?
HOMA-IR is the most widely used and validated for population studies; QUICKI discriminates better in the normal-sensitivity range; and the glucose-to-insulin ratio is a simple screen for hyperinsulinemia. This tool calculates all three at once so you can compare them. None replaces the research-standard euglycemic clamp.
What fasting values do I need to enter?
You need a fasting glucose and a fasting insulin from the same blood draw, taken after 8–12 hours without food. All three indices are calculated from those two numbers.
Why do the three indices sometimes disagree?
Each index weights glucose and insulin differently and has its own cut-offs, so a borderline result can land on different sides of the threshold. When they disagree, treat it as a prompt to discuss the pattern with your provider rather than a definitive answer.
Can these indices diagnose insulin resistance?
No. They are screening estimates, not diagnostic tests. A high result is a signal to evaluate further with a clinician, who will consider your full history, other labs, and risk factors.
Sources
- Matthews DR et al. "Homeostasis model assessment." Diabetologia. 1985;28(7):412–419.
- Katz A et al. "Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index." J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000;85(7):2402–2410.
Last reviewed: June 2025