Calculate the Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI), HOMA-IR, and HOMA-β from fasting insulin and glucose to assess insulin resistance and beta-cell function.
The Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) is a validated mathematical method for assessing insulin sensitivity from fasting blood levels. Unlike the costly and complex hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (the gold standard), QUICKI requires only two lab values — fasting insulin and fasting glucose — making it practical for clinical screening and epidemiological research.
QUICKI correlates strongly with clamp-derived insulin sensitivity (r = 0.78) and is particularly useful for detecting insulin resistance in the early, pre-diabetic phase when fasting glucose may still be normal but insulin levels are compensatorily elevated. Lower QUICKI values indicate greater insulin resistance.
This calculator also computes HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance), HOMA-β (beta-cell function), the McAuley Index (incorporating triglycerides), and the TG/HDL ratio — providing a comprehensive metabolic assessment from routine lab work. Together, these indices help identify individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease years before overt hyperglycemia develops.
Early detection of insulin resistance is crucial because it precedes type 2 diabetes by 10–15 years. During this window, lifestyle interventions (diet, exercise, weight loss) can prevent or significantly delay diabetes onset. QUICKI and HOMA-IR provide actionable information from routine lab work that most patients already receive during annual checkups, enabling proactive metabolic risk management.
QUICKI = 1 / (log₁₀(Fasting Insulin) + log₁₀(Fasting Glucose)) HOMA-IR = (Fasting Insulin × Fasting Glucose) / 405 HOMA-β = (360 × Fasting Insulin) / (Fasting Glucose − 63) McAuley = e^(2.63 − 0.28 × ln(Insulin) − 0.31 × ln(TG in mmol/L))
Result: QUICKI = 0.3466, HOMA-IR = 2.81, HOMA-β = 135%
QUICKI = 1/(log₁₀(12) + log₁₀(95)) = 1/(1.079 + 1.978) = 0.3466 — indicating borderline insulin resistance. HOMA-IR = (12 × 95)/405 = 2.81, confirming early insulin resistance. HOMA-β of 135% suggests compensatory hyperinsulinemia (pancreas working harder to maintain glucose).
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Both use fasting insulin and glucose. QUICKI is a logarithmic transformation that correlates better with clamp studies, particularly in the insulin-resistant range. HOMA-IR is more intuitive (higher = more resistant). They are mathematically related but not identical — QUICKI is considered slightly more accurate in research settings.
Fasting insulin above 12–15 µU/mL is often considered suggestive of insulin resistance, though reference ranges vary by lab. The absolute level is less informative than calculated indices (QUICKI, HOMA-IR) that account for the glucose-insulin relationship.
QUICKI is a measure of insulin sensitivity, not a diagnostic test for diabetes. However, very low QUICKI values (< 0.304) strongly correlate with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes diagnosis still requires fasting glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL, HbA1c ≥ 6.5%, or 2-hour OGTT glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL.
Fast for 8–12 hours before the blood draw (water is fine). Avoid vigorous exercise for 24 hours before the test. Test in the morning. Certain medications (steroids, thiazides, beta-blockers) can affect results — inform your doctor.
HOMA-β estimates pancreatic beta-cell function. In early insulin resistance, HOMA-β is elevated (compensatory hyperinsulinemia). As resistance progresses and beta cells fail, HOMA-β declines — this transition marks the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes.
A TG/HDL ratio > 3.5 (in mg/dL units) is a strong surrogate marker for insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. It reflects the dyslipidemia pattern (high triglycerides, low HDL) driven by hepatic insulin resistance and is easily calculable from a standard lipid panel.