Biomarkers of Blood Glucose Regulation: QUICKI

Optimal Takeaways

The QUICKI calculation incorporates fasting glucose and insulin to create a value that assesses insulin sensitivity. The higher the QUICKI, the greater the insulin sensitivity and metabolic control.

Standard Range: 0.34 –5

The ODX Range: 0.45 - 5

Low QUICKI values indicate a decrease in insulin sensitivity and increased risk of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.

High QUICKI values don’t appear to have clinical significance.

Overview

Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) values are mathematically derived from fasting glucose and insulin levels. They reflect insulin sensitivity, so low values indicate reduced insulin sensitivity and increased insulin resistance, while higher values reflect better insulin sensitivity.

QUICKI values provide strong predictive evidence for the onset of diabetes. They can be used to monitor changes in insulin sensitivity in type 2 and gestational diabetes, obesity, hypertension, polycystic ovary syndrome, and liver disease (Chen 2005).

A QUICKI value of 0.33 is associated with obesity and 0.30 is associated with type 2 diabetes (Chen 2005), while a value of 0.32 or less is associated with metabolic syndrome (Endukuru 2020).

QUICKI values are inversely correlated with fasting insulin and values decrease as insulin increases, and vice versa. The correlation was demonstrated in those who were nonobese and nondiabetic, obese and nondiabetic, and those with glucose intolerance or T2DM (Hauache 2003).

References

Chen, Hui et al. “Assessing the predictive accuracy of QUICKI as a surrogate index for insulin sensitivity using a calibration model.” Diabetes vol. 54,7 (2005): 1914-25. doi:10.2337/diabetes.54.7.1914

Endukuru, Chiranjeevi Kumar et al. “Cut-off Values and Clinical Utility of Surrogate Markers for Insulin Resistance and Beta-Cell Function to Identify Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components among Southern Indian Adults.” Journal of obesity & metabolic syndrome vol. 29,4 (2020): 281-291. doi:10.7570/jomes20071

Hauache, Omar M, and José G H Vieira. “Fasting insulin concentration is highly correlated with quantitative insulin sensitivity check index.” Endocrine vol. 21,2 (2003): 137-8. doi:10.1385/ENDO:21:2:137

Katz, A et al. “Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index: a simple, accurate method for assessing insulin sensitivity in humans.” The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism vol. 85,7 (2000): 2402-10. doi:10.1210/jcem.85.7.6661