1. What is HOMA-IR and HOMA-B?

HOMA (Homeostatic Model Assessment) is a method used to quantify insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and beta-cell function (HOMA-B) from fasting insulin and glucose measurements. These are important markers for assessing metabolic health and diabetes risk.

2. How Do the Calculators Work?

The calculators use the following formulas:

Where:

• Fasting Insulin — Measured in μU/mL
• Fasting Glucose — Measured in mg/dL

Explanation: HOMA-IR estimates insulin resistance, with higher values indicating greater resistance. HOMA-B estimates pancreatic beta-cell function, representing insulin secretion capacity.

3. Importance of HOMA Calculations

Details: These calculations are crucial for assessing metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes risk, and monitoring treatment effectiveness in insulin-resistant conditions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter fasting insulin in μU/mL and fasting glucose in mg/dL. Both values must be valid (greater than 0). For HOMA-B calculation, glucose must be greater than 63 mg/dL.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are normal HOMA-IR values?
A: Normal HOMA-IR is typically below 2.5. Values between 2.5-5.0 indicate moderate insulin resistance, while values above 5.0 suggest significant insulin resistance.

Q2: What do HOMA-B values indicate?
A: HOMA-B values around 100% indicate normal beta-cell function. Lower values suggest impaired beta-cell function, while higher values may indicate compensatory hyperinsulinemia.

Q3: When should these tests be performed?
A: These calculations should be based on true fasting samples (8-12 hours fasting) for accurate results.

Q4: Are there limitations to these equations?
A: HOMA models are less accurate in extreme conditions, in type 1 diabetes, and when insulin secretion patterns are abnormal.

Q5: Can these replace glucose tolerance tests?
A: While useful for screening, HOMA calculations cannot replace oral glucose tolerance tests for definitive diagnosis of glucose intolerance.