HOMA-IR Test – A Test That Can Predict Diabetes – Know More!

Introduction

The very mention of diabetes can strike fear in the heart of the bravest. It is known to adversely affect several organs in the body like the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and many more. If not diagnosed on time and treated, it can lead to several complications. You may have read plenty of blogs on how you can manage diabetes or about the measures you can adopt to prevent the onset of this disorder. But are you aware there is a test that can predict your chances of developing diabetes? It’s called the HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance) test. This test can help you in preventing diabetes.

Besides HOMA-IR, there are several other diagnostic tests that are used for testing for diabetes. Get in touch with your doctor to find out which test you should opt for and how to prepare yourself for it. Remember, the earlier the diagnosis, the easier and more effective the treatment procedures are going to be!

What is Diabetes All About?

To understand how HOMA IR may help you, you have to understand a thing or two about diabetes.

Diabetes is of two types – Type 1 (your body produces less insulin) and type 2 (associated with insulin resistance or less insulin production). Read more about the difference between type 1 & type 2 diabetes.  

Glucose or as it is more commonly known, blood sugar provides energy to the cells of our body. It acts as fuel, driving our cells, tissues, muscles and organs to perform their respective tasks. Our pancreas produces a hormone called insulin. Insulin sends signals to your cells to pick up glucose from your bloodstream. But sometimes, your cells defy the signals that insulin sends and refuse to absorb sugar from the blood. This is a case of insulin resistance. And when this happens, the sugar level in your blood begins to soar. So, we can say that insulin resistance is the precursor to diabetes.  

Abdominal fat increases insulin resistance,Cardio exercises combined with strength training not only decreases insulin resistance(via weight loss) but also increases insulin receptor density on muscles

Dr. Nikhil Yadav, MBBS MD,CCEBDM

What is HOMA-IR?

Insulin resistance not only paves the way for type 2 diabetes but also other diseases like hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease and cancer.  

Strangely enough, people with normal levels of blood sugar may be insulin resistant. And this is exactly where HOMA IR can help. This test measures how resistant your cells are to insulin. Insulin resistance, even if the sugar content in your blood is within acceptable levels, hints that there is a possibility that your blood sugar might spike in the future. This is how the HOMA-IR goes a step further than a normal blood sugar test, which can only monitor your sugar level and would not be able to detect if anything is wrong until high blood sugar sets in.    

HOMA IR, on the other hand, will ring the warning bells as soon as it registers even the slightest resistance to insulin in the pre-diabetes stage so that you can take the necessary steps to prevent a full-blown attack of diabetes.

Acute illness and stress are the two clinically often neglected conditions where fasting plasma glucose test is more sensitive than HbA1C, which is also known as glycated hemoglobin test for detecting blood sugar levels. One should always do the Fasting plasma glucose along with HbA1C to get a correct diagnosis.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

HOMA-IR Scale

Your results from the HOMA-IR test are displayed against a scale or range that determines the level of your insulin resistance. Low HOMA-IR implies you are sensitive to insulin and higher levels indicate insulin resistance and higher chances of you developing diabetes mellitus.  

Initial diagnosis of diabetes should always be made by fasting blood sugar and post prandial blood sugar. For monitoring you can use HbA1c.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD(Pediatrics)

Ways to Decrease Your HOMA-IR Scale

To properly be able to tackle decreasing insulin resistance, it is necessary to bring about changes in lifestyle and habits. There are two ways in which this could be achieved:

• Dietary changes- Reducing calorie and processed carbohydrates and increasing fibre intake.
• Lifestyle changes- Plenty of exercise and activity while avoiding prolonged periods of inactivity.

Want to manage your diabetes effectively? Book your free diabetes consultation from our experts!

What Should You Do If You are Insulin Resistant?

You should consult a doctor who will advise you on appropriate lifestyle modification or prescribe the appropriate medication. You will also have to go on a special diet of fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, eggs, soy products, etc. Seek a dietician’s help to draw up a diet chart and don’t forget to exercise regularly. Workout is known to decrease insulin resistance. Get at least 7-hours of sleep.    

HOMA-IR is a groundbreaking new method of diagnosing diabetes before it develops. With appropriate care, you can avert diabetes. Isn’t this test worth your time? So, book a test as soon as possible.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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