METS-IR (Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance) is a surrogate index of insulin resistance, proposed by Bello-Chavolla et al. in 2018.
It estimates insulin sensitivity from routine markers, without a direct insulin assay, and was validated against the "gold standard" — the euglycemic clamp.
Reference ranges
METS-IR is interpreted relative to the population — the higher the value, the lower the insulin sensitivity:
| Lower | better insulin sensitivity |
| Higher (roughly from ~50) | a sign of insulin resistance |
What an elevated level means
A high METS-IR indicates insulin resistance and is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease (data from large cohorts, including NHANES).
What a low level means
A low METS-IR means good insulin sensitivity.
How the test is done
The formula: METS-IR = ln(2 × glucose + TG) × BMI / ln(HDL) (glucose, TG and HDL in mg/dL). You need glucose, triglycerides, HDL and BMI. An insulin test is not required.
Calculate using this marker
Calculators where METS-IR (Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance) is used directly:
Frequently asked questions
How does METS-IR differ from HOMA-IR?
HOMA-IR requires an insulin test, whereas METS-IR is calculated without one — from glucose, triglycerides, HDL and BMI. That makes METS-IR convenient for screening when insulin has not been measured.
What METS-IR is considered high?
There is no single threshold — the index is compared against the population; values roughly from 50 upward are linked to insulin resistance. What matters is not one number but the combination with blood sugar, lipids and waist circumference.
Related terms
Sources
- Bello-Chavolla OY et al. METS-IR, a novel score to evaluate insulin sensitivity. Eur J Endocrinol, 2018
- MDCalc — Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance (METS-IR)