What is HOMA-IR?

Name: HOMA-IR
Creator: Dr Robin Wang

Written by Dr Robin Wang

HOMA-IR is not measured in blood. It is Fasting Glucose and Fasting Insulin multiplied together and converted to a single figure.

Test your HOMA-IR See related biomarkers

Why does HOMA-IR matter?

Insulin resistance is when tissues need more insulin to take up the same glucose. The same glucose can sit on very little insulin or on a great deal, and HOMA-IR is the estimate that separates the two cases.

How does HOMA-IR relate to other markers?

Fasting Glucose and Fasting Insulin are its only two inputs, and both come from the same fasting sample, so HOMA-IR adds no further blood test.

What affects HOMA-IR?

Nothing acts on HOMA-IR directly. A change in insulin sensitivity reaches it through Fasting Insulin, which rises as more hormone is needed to hold the same glucose.

Why Do Health tests HOMA-IR once a year

Between the two inputs, Fasting Insulin moves earlier than Fasting Glucose does, and it is already measured three times a year. The yearly HOMA-IR pairs one of those readings with Fasting Glucose. A change will already have shown in the insulin readings before the next pairing comes round. This is Do Health's monitoring schedule, not a general recommendation for everyone.