• Glucose - Fasting: Measures the baseline sugar in your blood. High levels indicate the body is struggling to manage energy stores.
• Serum Insulin - Fasting: Measures the amount of insulin your pancreas secretes while you are at rest. High fasting insulin is a classic sign that your body is overcompensating for resistance.
• HOMA-IR (Insulin Resistance): Calculates the level of resistance. A higher score means your cells are "ignoring" insulin, forcing the pancreas to work harder.
• Insulin Sensitivity (%S): Represents how "sensitive" or responsive your body is to insulin. Higher is better.
• Beta Cell Function (%B): Measures the health and output capacity of the insulin-producing cells (Beta cells) in your pancreas. This helps determine if your pancreas is starting to "tire out."

Why check Beta Cell function?

Because even if your sugar is normal, your Beta cells might be working at 200% capacity to keep it that way. This test tells us if they are starting to fail.

Why does the report take 24 hours?

The HOMA2 computerized model requires precise batch processing of insulin samples to ensure the three-way calculation is perfectly balanced.

Can I drink black coffee?

No. Caffeine triggers a glucose release from the liver, which spikes insulin and will result in a false HOMA-IR score.

Is HOMA-IR 2 better than the original HOMA?

Yes. HOMA2 accounts for variations in hepatic and peripheral glucose disposal, making it more accurate for clinical use.

What if my Beta Cell (%B) is over 100%?

This means your pancreas is in "overdrive" to compensate for high resistance. It is a sign of metabolic stress.

Can I take Metformin before the test?

No. Metformin directly alters insulin sensitivity. You should be off it for the duration your doctor specifies to see your true baseline.

Why did my doctor order this for PCOS?

Insulin resistance is the primary driver of PCOS in most women. Treating the resistance often helps regularize cycles.

Can weight loss fix my score?

Yes! Reducing visceral (belly) fat is the most effective way to lower HOMA-IR and increase %S (Sensitivity).

Does stress affect the result?

Yes. Cortisol (stress hormone) raises blood sugar and insulin, which will artificially inflate your resistance score.

Can I drink water?

Yes, plain water is encouraged.

Why is the Hexokinase method used?

It is the gold standard for glucose measurement because it is not affected by common medications or other blood chemicals.

What if my Sensitivity (%S) is low but my Sugar is normal?

This is "compensated insulin resistance." You are currently healthy, but at high risk for future diabetes.

Is this test done for children?

Yes, it is increasingly used to screen for metabolic issues in children with obesity.

Does smoking affect HOMA-IR?

Yes. Nicotine causes immediate, temporary insulin resistance. Avoid smoking for 12 hours before testing.

Is the test result confidential?

Absolutely. At Dr. Patho, your metabolic data is protected by strict privacy protocols.