🧪 Insulin Sensitivity Calculator

Estimate your glucose disposal rate and insulin sensitivity

Measurement Units: Metric (mmol/L, mg/dL) US Standard (mg/dL only)

Diabetes Status Non-Diabetic Pre-Diabetes Type 1 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes

Calculation Method

📊

HOMA-IR (Fasting Glucose & Insulin)

Fasting Glucose

Fasting Insulin (μIU/mL)

🍞

Carbohydrate Sensitivity (Meal Test)

Carbs Consumed (grams)

Glucose Rise After 2 Hours (from baseline)

💉

Corrective Factor (For Insulin Users)

Insulin Dose Taken (units)

Glucose Drop After 4 Hours (from baseline)

Your Insulin Sensitivity Results:

0

Category

Insulin Sensitivity Index

0

Glucose Disposal Rate

0 mg/dL/unit

Carbohydrate Ratio

0 g/unit

Recommended Action

Recommendations will appear here based on your results.

ℹ️ About Insulin Sensitivity

Insulin sensitivity measures how effectively your body responds to insulin. Higher sensitivity means your cells can use glucose more efficiently, while insulin resistance (low sensitivity) is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Select your measurement units (Metric or US Standard)
2. Choose your diabetes status
3. Select the calculation method that matches your available data
4. Enter your measurements (fasting glucose/insulin, carb test, or insulin correction data)
5. Click "Calculate Sensitivity"

🩸 Measurement Tips

Fasting Tests: Perform after 8-12 hours of fasting, ideally in the morning.

Carb Tests: Measure glucose before and 2 hours after consuming known carb amount.

Correction Tests: Measure glucose before and 4 hours after insulin dose (without eating).

Accuracy: For best results, average several measurements over multiple days.

Example Calculations

📊 HOMA-IR Example (Non-Diabetic)

Glucose: 90 mg/dL (5.0 mmol/L)

Insulin: 5 μIU/mL

Result: HOMA-IR 1.1 (Excellent sensitivity)

🍞 Carb Sensitivity Example (Pre-Diabetes)

Carbs: 50g

Glucose Rise: 65 mg/dL (3.6 mmol/L)

Result: Moderate insulin resistance

💉 Correction Factor Example (Type 1 Diabetes)

Insulin: 3 units

Glucose Drop: 90 mg/dL (5.0 mmol/L)

Result: 30 mg/dL per unit (Typical sensitivity)

HOMA-IR Interpretation

• < 1.0: Excellent insulin sensitivity
• 1.0-1.9: Normal sensitivity
• 2.0-2.9: Mild insulin resistance
• 3.0-4.9: Significant insulin resistance
• ≥ 5.0: Severe insulin resistance

Glucose Disposal Rate (GDR)

This measures how much one unit of insulin lowers your blood glucose:

• 30-100 mg/dL/unit: Normal range
• < 30 mg/dL/unit: Insulin resistant
• > 100 mg/dL/unit: Very insulin sensitive

Carbohydrate-to-Insulin Ratio (CIR)

How many grams of carbs one unit of insulin covers:

• 10-15 g/unit: Typical for adults
• 5-10 g/unit: More insulin needed (resistance)
• 15-30 g/unit: Less insulin needed (sensitive)

Lifestyle Interventions

• Exercise: Both aerobic and resistance training improve sensitivity
• Diet: Focus on whole foods, fiber, and healthy fats
• Weight Loss: Even 5-10% reduction can significantly improve sensitivity
• Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep nightly
• Stress Management: Chronic stress worsens insulin resistance

Nutritional Strategies

• Prioritize low-glycemic index carbohydrates
• Include protein with each meal
• Consume vinegar or acidic foods with high-carb meals
• Consider cinnamon, berberine, or magnesium supplements
• Practice time-restricted eating (12-16 hour overnight fasts)

When to Seek Medical Advice

Consult your healthcare provider if:

• Your HOMA-IR is consistently above 2.5
• You experience frequent hypoglycemia
• Your glucose levels remain elevated despite lifestyle changes
• You need help adjusting medication doses

HOMA-IR Formula

The Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) is calculated as:

(Fasting Glucose × Fasting Insulin) / 405 (for mg/dL)

(Fasting Glucose × Fasting Insulin) / 22.5 (for mmol/L)

Carbohydrate Sensitivity Formula

Estimated insulin sensitivity from carb challenge:

ISI = (Carbs in grams × 1000) / (Glucose Rise × Weight in kg)

Correction Factor Formula

Glucose disposal rate from insulin correction:

GDR = Glucose Drop / Insulin Units

Limitations

These calculations provide estimates only. Actual sensitivity varies by:

• Time of day (morning vs evening)
• Recent exercise or activity
• Illness or infection
• Medication effects
• Menstrual cycle phase (in women)