QUICKI Calculator (Insulin Sensitivity)
Estimate insulin sensitivity with QUICKI — the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, a log-transformed index from a single fasting sample (fasting glucose and fasting insulin). Higher values mean greater insulin sensitivity. It is a common companion to HOMA-IR in research and screening. Enter fasting values taken after an 8–12 hour fast.
About QUICKI
QUICKI is a log-transformed fasting index of insulin sensitivity: 1 ÷ (log₁₀ insulin + log₁₀ glucose), glucose in mg/dL. Source: Katz A et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000;85(7):2402–2410.
Frequently asked questions
What is the QUICKI formula?
QUICKI = 1 ÷ (log₁₀(fasting insulin) + log₁₀(fasting glucose)), with insulin in µU/mL and glucose in mg/dL, using base-10 logarithms. For example, insulin 8 µU/mL and glucose 90 mg/dL give 1 ÷ (0.903 + 1.954) = 0.35. If your report uses SI units, convert first: multiply glucose in mmol/L by 18 to get mg/dL, and divide insulin in pmol/L by 6 to get µU/mL. Because the index is the reciprocal of a sum of logarithms it occupies a narrow range, with most adult results falling between about 0.30 and 0.45, so differences of a few hundredths are meaningful.
What is a normal QUICKI value?
QUICKI rises with insulin sensitivity, so higher is better. As a guide, values around 0.45 indicate high sensitivity, a healthy mean is roughly 0.37, and values below about 0.34 suggest insulin resistance, with values near 0.30 typical of type 2 diabetes. Thresholds vary between laboratories and populations.
How does QUICKI differ from HOMA-IR?
Both use the same fasting glucose and insulin, but QUICKI applies a logarithmic transformation that gives a more normal distribution and correlates well with clamp studies. QUICKI goes up with sensitivity, while HOMA-IR goes up with resistance. Reporting both is common.
What sample does it need?
Fasting glucose and insulin from the same blood sample after an 8–12 hour overnight fast. Non-fasting values invalidate the index, and like other fasting indices it is less reliable in people on insulin or with beta-cell failure. Both analytes should come from the same draw, since pairing a glucose and an insulin taken on different days can produce a misleading index. Insulin assays are also not standardised between laboratories, so QUICKI values are best compared within one lab over time rather than against a result from elsewhere.
Can QUICKI diagnose diabetes or insulin resistance?
QUICKI does not diagnose diabetes or insulin resistance. It is a screening and research surrogate for insulin sensitivity, not a diagnostic test. A low value is a prompt to consider metabolic risk factors and further assessment. This calculator is an educational reference, not medical advice.
This is a reference tool, not a diagnosis or medical advice. Results depend on the laboratory, assay and clinical context, and reference intervals vary between labs and by age and sex — always read your result against the range printed on your own report and discuss it with a qualified healthcare professional.
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