QUICKI Calculator

Estimate insulin sensitivity from fasting insulin and glucose using the QUICKI formula, with interpretation bands and a HOMA-IR cross-reference.

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Fasting Lab Values

Both values should be from the same fasting blood sample (minimum 8 hours fasted).

Typical fasting range: 2–25 µU/mL

Enter your fasting insulin and glucose values to estimate insulin sensitivity.

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Health — Diabetes

QUICKI Insulin Sensitivity Calculator

The Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) is a simple, validated formula for estimating insulin sensitivity from fasting insulin and fasting glucose values. Developed by Katz et al. (2000), it correlates well with the hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp — the gold-standard measure of insulin sensitivity. A higher QUICKI value indicates better insulin sensitivity.

The QUICKI formula

QUICKI is calculated as 1 divided by the sum of the base-10 logarithms of fasting insulin (in µU/mL) and fasting glucose (in mg/dL). Values above 0.38 are generally considered normal; values below 0.34 suggest insulin resistance.

In research settings, QUICKI has been validated in healthy subjects, obese individuals, and patients with type 2 diabetes. It provides a practical alternative to insulin clamp studies for population-level research and clinical estimation.

QUICKI = 1 / (log₁₀[insulin µU/mL] + log₁₀[glucose mg/dL])

Katz et al. (2000)

Comparison with HOMA-IR

HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance) is another widely used index: HOMA-IR = (insulin × glucose mmol/L) / 22.5. While HOMA-IR measures insulin resistance, QUICKI measures insulin sensitivity — they are inversely related.

Both QUICKI and HOMA-IR are derived from the same two measurements and correlate well with each other and with clamp-measured sensitivity. QUICKI is preferred in some research contexts because its log-transformation normalises the distribution of values.

Frequently asked questions

What fasting conditions are required for accurate QUICKI?

Both insulin and glucose should be measured from a fasting blood sample taken after at least 8–10 hours without food or caloric drink. Exercise, stress, recent illness, and some medications can affect fasting insulin levels.

 Is QUICKI used in clinical practice?

QUICKI is primarily a research tool. In clinical settings, HbA1c, fasting glucose, and HOMA-IR are more commonly used for metabolic risk assessment. However, QUICKI remains a useful educational tool for understanding insulin sensitivity from standard laboratory values.

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