Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR)
Insulin resistance becomes more relevant with age. Track it with fasting glucose, insulin and your HOMA-IR score.
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Included Markers
3 markersGlucose (Fasting), HOMA-IR, Insulin (Fasting)
HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance) estimates insulin resistance from a fasting blood sample. It is a simple, well-established way of supporting healthy ageing and diabetes prevention.
What is HOMA-IR?
HOMA-IR is a calculated score, not a separate measurement. It is derived from two fasting markers: fasting glucose and fasting insulin, using the formula (glucose × insulin) / 22.5. A higher score points towards more insulin resistance; a lower score towards better insulin sensitivity.
Why this test?
Insulin resistance often develops quietly. Fasting insulin can rise to keep glucose normal long before fasting glucose itself moves, so HOMA-IR can surface metabolic change earlier than a glucose test alone. This panel is aimed at supporting healthy ageing and diabetes prevention.
What is tested?
The panel measures and reports three things:
Glucose (fasting) — your fasting blood sugar
Insulin (fasting) — the hormone that moves glucose into cells
HOMA-IR — the calculated insulin-resistance score from the two values above
How is the sample collected?
The test is a blood draw at a certified sample point (afnamepunt), with 650+ locations across the Netherlands. After ordering, you choose a convenient location and plan your visit. The draw is performed by trained professionals.
What happens after the results?
Your results are usually in your SlimmerLab account within 2 working days of the blood draw, often the next day. Some markers take longer. Glucose and insulin are shown with their reference ranges, and HOMA-IR with its interpretation band. These are intended to be discussed with your doctor, who can interpret them in the context of your personal situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Both fasting glucose and fasting insulin require an empty stomach, so fast for 8 to 12 hours (water is fine) before the draw. A non-fasting sample makes the HOMA-IR score unreliable.
No. The lab measures fasting glucose and fasting insulin; HOMA-IR is calculated from those two values. That is why the test reports all three.
No referral is needed to order this test. You can share the results with your doctor afterwards.
This test costs €99,-. The blood draw is part of it, so there are no extra draw costs; you pay yourself.
No. Blood testing you request yourself is not part of the basic Dutch insurance. You pay it yourself, and it does not come off your deductible (eigen risico).
Count on one business day, and a day extra if you order after 17:00 or at the weekend. That is how long the referral email takes, and without that referral you cannot be drawn yet. At some draw sites you then walk in without an appointment; the others work by appointment. Each location says which.
The barcode from the ZorgDomein email and a valid ID. You show the barcode on your phone; you do not need to print it. Without a BSN you get no barcode in the email, and you print the referral form from the link in the email.
Yes, take your medication as normal, unless your own doctor said something else. Some tests ask for more, such as no alcohol for 24 hours or no heavy training for 48 hours. You read that on the test and in the instructions with your order.
At the draw site you show the barcode and a valid ID. Then your blood is taken; allow about a quarter of an hour.
Yes. Every result gets an assessment from a BIG-registered doctor, with an explanation of your values in your account. Treatment you discuss with your GP.
SlimmerLab works with a network of independent, certified laboratories spread across the Netherlands. Those laboratories also manage the draw sites; SlimmerLab is not their owner. Reference values can differ slightly from laboratory to laboratory.
No. Your test does not go through your GP and does not enter your medical record. Your data goes to a healthcare provider only if you give written consent, and it is never sold. Anonymous testing is not possible: a valid result requires your name, date of birth and a valid ID.
What We Test
| No. | Biomarker | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Glucose (Fasting) | mmol/l |
| 02 | HOMA-IR | Index |
| 03 | Insulin (Fasting) | pmol/L |
| Your results are usually in your SlimmerLab account within 2 working days of the blood draw. The laboratory states a longer turnaround for Insulin (Fasting). | ||
Preparation
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Pause biotin
RequiredDo you take a supplement with biotin (vitamin B8, common in hair, skin and nail supplements)? Stop it 72 hours before the draw. Biotin interferes with the measurement of these values.
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Come fasting
RequiredFrom 22:00 the evening before, eat and drink nothing except water. That is at least 8 hours. Skip coffee, tea, chewing gum and smoking that morning. Plan the draw before 10:00.
- Water is always fine. Drink as usual beforehand, it makes the draw easier.
- Take your usual medication, unless your own doctor told you otherwise.
Extend this panel
Same draw, no second appointment.
Related Measurements
GLP-1 Baseline Panel
Your starting point before the first injection: blood sugar, cholesterol, pancreas, liver, kidneys, thyroid and nutrients in one measurement.
GLP-1 Check-in Panel
The 3-month safety and progress check clinics do: pancreas, liver, kidneys, salts and your metabolic progress on GLP-1 medication.
GLP-1 Extended Panel
The 6-month measurement: everything from the check-in plus insulin, ApoB and your nutrients — especially relevant if you have been eating much less for a while.