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Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance (METS-IR)

Non-insulin surrogate index of insulin resistance and future type 2 diabetes risk from routine labs and BMI.

Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance (METS-IR)
Fasting glucose
Fasting triglycerides
HDL cholesterol
Weight
Height
Complete the fields above to see the result.

When to use

  • Estimating insulin resistance and future type 2 diabetes risk from a routine metabolic panel and anthropometrics, without requiring an insulin level.

Formula

METS-IR = Ln[(2 x fasting glucose [mg/dL]) + triglycerides [mg/dL]] x BMI [kg/m2] / Ln[HDL-C [mg/dL]].

Pearls and pitfalls

  • Correlates well with the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and HOMA-IR without needing an insulin assay.
  • Cut-points for insulin resistance vary by population; use cohort-specific thresholds where available rather than a single universal cutoff.

References

  1. Bello-Chavolla OY, Almeda-Valdes P, Gomez-Velasco D, et al. Eur J Endocrinol. 2018;178(5):533-544.