QUICKI Calculator — Insulin Sensitivity Index
QUICKI (Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index), introduced by Katz et al. in 2000, estimates insulin sensitivity from a single fasting blood draw. A score ≥ 0.45 is normal; values below 0.30 indicate severe insulin resistance.
μU/mL
mg/dL
Higher values indicate better insulin sensitivity (normal ≥ 0.45)
- 1
log₁₀(insulin)
log₁₀(10) = 1 - 2
log₁₀(glucose)
log₁₀(90) = 1.9542 - 3
Sum of logarithms
1 + 1.9542 = 2.9542QUICKI uses the sum of both base-10 logs as the denominator. - 4
QUICKI score
1 ÷ 2.9542 = 0.338
How does this calculator work?
QUICKI = 1 / (log₁₀(fasting insulin in μU/mL) + log₁₀(fasting glucose in mg/dL)). Scores ≥ 0.45 indicate normal insulin sensitivity; 0.30–0.45 is impaired; below 0.30 is severe insulin resistance. Enter both fasting values from the same blood draw for an accurate result.
Formula
How this is calculated
QUICKI is derived from the euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp, the gold-standard measure of insulin sensitivity. Katz et al. showed that the reciprocal of the sum of the base-10 logarithms of fasting insulin (I₀, in μU/mL) and fasting plasma glucose (G₀, in mg/dL) correlates strongly (r ≈ 0.78) with clamp-measured glucose disposal rate. Because both variables span orders of magnitude, the logarithm compresses the scale and makes the index more linear than HOMA-IR at high insulin concentrations.
A QUICKI score of 0.45 or above falls within the normal range for non-diabetic, insulin-sensitive individuals in the original study population. Impaired sensitivity is typically defined as 0.30–0.45, while scores below 0.30 indicate severe insulin resistance often associated with type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). For comparison, HOMA-IR (insulin × glucose / 405) is shown as a secondary metric — the two indices correlate inversely, so a high HOMA-IR corresponds to a low QUICKI.
Important limitations: QUICKI assumes a fasted state (8–12 hours); non-fasting values will produce meaningless results. The thresholds were derived from a predominantly Caucasian cohort and may differ by ethnicity, age, and sex. The index is a research and screening tool, not a clinical diagnosis. Interpretation should always occur in the context of a full metabolic panel and clinical assessment by a physician.
Frequently asked questions
In the original Katz et al. (2000) study, healthy non-diabetic subjects had a mean QUICKI of approximately 0.45. Values ≥ 0.45 are considered normal. Values of 0.30–0.45 suggest impaired insulin sensitivity, and values below 0.30 indicate severe insulin resistance, as seen in overt type 2 diabetes.
Both use fasting insulin and glucose. HOMA-IR = (insulin × glucose) / 405 and is directly proportional to insulin resistance (higher = worse). QUICKI uses logarithms and is inversely proportional (higher = better sensitivity). QUICKI shows stronger linearity across a wider range of insulin values and correlates marginally better with clamp data, but both are widely used screening tools.
This calculator expects glucose in mg/dL. To convert from mmol/L, multiply by 18.0182. For example, 5.0 mmol/L × 18 = 90 mg/dL. Insulin units (μU/mL) are universal and need no conversion.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). QUICKI Calculator — Insulin Sensitivity Index [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/quicki-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "QUICKI Calculator — Insulin Sensitivity Index." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/quicki-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "QUICKI Calculator — Insulin Sensitivity Index," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/quicki-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_quicki_calculator, title = {QUICKI Calculator — Insulin Sensitivity Index}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/quicki-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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