HOMA-IR
What it measures, and what changes the number.
HOMA-IR, the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, is not measured directly. It is a calculated index that combines a fasting glucose value and a fasting insulin value to estimate how much insulin the body needs to keep glucose steady.
It is therefore always read alongside the Glucose and Insulin results it was computed from, and often next to HbA1c and lipid markers such as the Triglycerides/HDL ratio, which are also used when looking at glucose metabolism.
Both inputs must come from a true fasting sample; a sample taken after eating makes the index meaningless. Insulin assays differ between manufacturers, so the same person can get different HOMA-IR values at different labs. Some labs use the original simple formula and others a later computer model version, which do not give identical results. Labs may print it as Índice HOMA (resistencia a la insulina).
Often read alongside: Glucose, Insulin, HbA1c (NGSP), Triglycerides/HDL ratio