Homeostasis Model Assessments (HOMA) Test

 an Indicator of Silent Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a complex disease, featured by abnormalities of several risk factors of atherosclerosis, including plasma lipids, blood pressure and the coagulation cascade. However, classic risk factors explain only a portion (25%) of the excess of risk for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in type 2 diabetes. The independent contribution of hyperglycemia was pointed out, although it is still debated. Another culprit could be insulin resistance, which is found in most patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

There is evidence to support the fact that by the time glucose tolerance or fasting glucose levels become impaired, appreciable β cell destruction may have already occurred. Early identification of insulin resistant individuals is important for the management strategies of diabetes and its complications.

Homeostasis Model Assessments (HOMA) is an indirect method for the assessment of insulin resistance. HOMA estimates steady state beta cell function and insulin sensitivity, as percentages of a normal reference population.

HOMA is calculated using both the fasting insulin and fasting blood glucose levels.

The HOMA test is done in Saridar Lab and the run out time is 24 hours.