HOMA-IR & QUICKI Insulin Resistance Calculator

Understanding the HOMA-IR and QUICKI calculator — concept and principle

HOMA-IR and QUICKI turn a single fasting blood test into an estimate of insulin resistance, the state in which the body needs more insulin than usual to keep blood glucose normal. Enter fasting glucose (mg/dL) and fasting insulin (µU/mL), and the calculator returns both indices and a rough interpretation. They are a cheap research alternative to the glucose clamp test.

The less cells respond, the more insulin it takes to hold the same glucose — and the product rises.

How it is calculated

HOMA-IR = fasting glucose (mg/dL) × fasting insulin (µU/mL) ÷ 405
QUICKI = 1 ÷ (log₁₀ insulin + log₁₀ glucose)

In mmol/L units the HOMA-IR divisor is 22.5; 405 is simply 22.5 × 18, the mg/dL conversion. Both values must come from the same fasting sample, usually after 8–12 hours without food.

The principle

In the fasting state, glucose level reflects a balance between glucose released by the liver and the insulin that restrains it. If insulin is high while glucose is still normal, the tissues are responding weakly to insulin. Matthews and colleagues (1985) modelled this feedback loop and scaled it so that a healthy young adult with insulin around 5 µU/mL and glucose around 4.5 mmol/L scores about 1. HOMA-IR rises as resistance increases. QUICKI uses the same two numbers but takes logarithms and the reciprocal, which spreads values more evenly; higher QUICKI means better sensitivity.

Worked example

Inputs: glucose 95 mg/dL, insulin 10 µU/mL.
HOMA-IR: 95 × 10 = 950; 950 ÷ 405 = 2.35.
QUICKI: log₁₀ 10 = 1.000, log₁₀ 95 = 1.978; sum = 2.978; 1 ÷ 2.978 = 0.34.
Because 2.35 is between 1 and 2.5, the calculator labels it normal range.

Each point is the calculator re-run with only “Fasting glucose (mg/dL)” changed; the gold point is the default example. Change the inputs above and this chart follows your numbers.

Fasting glucose (mg/dL)	HOMA-IR
23.8	0.59
47.5	1.17
71.2	1.76
95	2.35
119	2.93
142	3.52
190	4.69

How to read the result

Where does your result fall?

The calculator uses simple bands: below 1 as insulin-sensitive, 1 to 2.5 as normal, and 2.5 or more as suggesting insulin resistance. Published cut-offs differ by population, age, body size and the insulin assay used, with values roughly from 1.7 to 3 appearing in studies, so a result such as 2.35 sits close to some thresholds. The index is best used to follow the same person over time with the same laboratory.

Common mistakes

Using a non-fasting sample, which inflates both glucose and insulin.
Mixing units, such as glucose in mmol/L with the 405 divisor.
Applying HOMA-IR to people on insulin therapy, where measured insulin is not the body's own.

Keep in mind: HOMA-IR and QUICKI are estimates with sizeable day-to-day variation and no universal cut-off. This is not a diagnosis; diabetes and prediabetes are diagnosed with fasting glucose, HbA1c or a glucose tolerance test, so discuss your results with a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

What can lower HOMA-IR?

Weight loss in people with excess weight, regular physical activity and better sleep are associated with improved insulin sensitivity.

Is HOMA-IR used to diagnose diabetes?

No. It describes insulin resistance, which can exist with normal glucose, while diabetes criteria rely on glucose and HbA1c.

Sources: Matthews DR et al. Homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance and β-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man. Diabetologia 1985;28:412–419. · Katz A et al. Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000;85(7):2402–2410.

Checked 8 Nov 2026. Matthews et al., Diabetologia 1985; Katz et al., JCEM 2000.

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