HOMA-IR
Also reported as: Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance
A calculated index of insulin resistance: fasting glucose (mg/dL) × fasting insulin (µIU/mL) ÷ 405. In mmol/L units the divisor is 22.5.
Rarely reported by laboratories — usually calculated by hand.
Values below about 1.0 indicate good insulin sensitivity; above 2.0 is generally treated as insulin resistant, though the exact cut-off varies between populations.
Check your result
Enter the number from your report. Nothing is sent anywhere — this runs in your browser.
Where the thresholds sit
| Band | Range (index) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Optimal | < 1 | — |
| Good | 1–1.5 | — |
| Early resistance | 1.5–2.5 | — |
| Insulin resistant | > 2.5 | — |
Why it matters
Combines the two fasting numbers into a single figure that tracks insulin resistance better than either alone, using a test most people can already get. It is the practical stand-in for a euglycaemic clamp, which is accurate but impractical outside research.
What raises it
- Anything that raises fasting insulin or fasting glucose
What lowers it
- Resistance training
- Weight loss
- Improved sleep
- Reduced refined carbohydrate
How to move it
- 1The levers are the same as for fasting insulin — this is a derived number, not an independent target.
- 2Track it over time rather than against a threshold. A fall from 2.8 to 1.9 is meaningful progress even though both sit above optimal.
What moves this marker
Interventions on this site with evidence behind them for this specific marker. None of them replaces working out why yours is where it is.
What makes a single reading misleading
- Only valid in the fasted state and only where the pancreas still produces insulin normally.
- Cut-offs vary meaningfully between ethnic groups.
- Check which unit convention a calculator uses — the divisor differs between mg/dL and mmol/L.
Sources
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Educational only. Reference ranges are not diagnostic thresholds and this page cannot account for your medical history, medication or symptoms. Discuss any result that concerns you with a qualified clinician. See our medical disclaimer.