TyG index calculator for insulin resistance
Estimate insulin resistance from fasting triglycerides and fasting glucose, two numbers on most routine blood tests. No insulin test needed, and it works in mg/dL or mmol/L. Most published cut-offs for insulin resistance fall between about 8.2 and 8.9.
By Dt. Trishala Goswami, MSc Clinical Nutritionist, Diabetes Educator · Last updated October 2026
TyG Index Calculator
Enter fasting triglycerides and fasting glucose from the same blood test. Works with mg/dL or mmol/L. No insulin test needed.
This tool is general education, not a diagnosis. Discuss your numbers with your doctor, and work with a qualified clinical nutritionist to act on them.
How to calculate the TyG index
The TyG index uses two values from the same fasting blood test (Guerrero-Romero et al., 2010):
TyG = ln(fasting triglycerides in mg/dL × fasting glucose in mg/dL ÷ 2)
Worked example: triglycerides 150 mg/dL (1.69 mmol/L) and glucose 95 mg/dL (5.3 mmol/L). 150 × 95 ÷ 2 = 7,125, and ln(7,125) = 8.87.
Converting lab units
| Your report shows | To convert |
|---|---|
| Triglycerides in mmol/L | × 88.57 = mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L = 151 mg/dL) |
| Glucose in mmol/L | × 18 = mg/dL (5.0 mmol/L = 90 mg/dL) |
Two versions of the formula
Some papers, including several Indian studies, write the formula as ln(triglycerides × glucose) ÷ 2, which gives numbers around 4.3 to 4.8 instead of 8.2 to 8.9. Both versions rank people the same way (Vieira-Ribeiro et al., 2020). To compare, the standard value = 2 × the smaller value − 0.693, so a cut-off of 4.65 equals about 8.61. The calculator shows both.
TyG ranges: what your score means
| TyG index | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Below 8.4 | Below most published cut-offs for insulin resistance |
| 8.4 to 8.8 | Grey zone: inside the range where studies set their cut-offs |
| 8.9 and above | Above published cut-offs: insulin resistance likely |
These bands come from a systematic review in which cut-offs for insulin resistance ranged from 4.43 to 4.78 on the smaller scale, about 8.2 to 8.9 on the standard one. The authors could not set a single standard value because the studies differed so much (Sánchez-García et al., 2020). The only Asian clamp study in that review placed the cut-off at about 8.4.
When TyG is useful, and when it is not
The main advantage of TyG is access. Fasting insulin, which you need for HOMA-IR, is often not on a routine panel, particularly in the UK, US and Australia. Triglycerides and glucose usually are. If your yearly blood test shows triglycerides creeping up alongside a fasting glucose in the high-normal range, TyG puts the two together into one trend you can track.
Limitations to keep in mind
TyG is a screening estimate, not a diagnosis. Cut-offs vary by age, sex and ethnicity (Tahapary et al., 2022), and Indian data are limited. In a clamp study of lean, young South Indian men, TyG and HOMA-IR both tracked insulin resistance poorly (Anoop et al., 2020). Triglycerides also swing with recent meals, alcohol, weight change and lipid or diabetes medicines (Tao et al., 2022), and TyG has not been validated in pregnancy or type 1 diabetes.
Read your score with your HbA1c, waist size and family history, and see our guides to insulin resistance symptoms and lowering cholesterol and triglycerides on an Indian diet.
Common questions about the TyG index
What is the TyG index?
The TyG (triglyceride-glucose) index is a simple estimate of insulin resistance made from two routine fasting blood tests: triglycerides and glucose. When cells resist insulin, the liver tends to release more triglycerides and fasting glucose creeps up, so the product of the two rises. It was developed by researchers in Mexico and checked against the gold-standard clamp test.
How do you calculate the TyG index?
TyG = ln(fasting triglycerides × fasting glucose ÷ 2), with both values in mg/dL and ln meaning the natural logarithm. For example, triglycerides 150 mg/dL and glucose 95 mg/dL give ln(150 × 95 ÷ 2) = ln(7,125) = 8.87. If your report is in mmol/L, multiply triglycerides by 88.57 and glucose by 18 to get mg/dL first.
What is a normal TyG index?
There is no single agreed normal value. A review of studies found cut-offs for insulin resistance ranging from about 8.2 to 8.9 on the standard scale, with no standard value possible because the studies differed so much. A score below about 8.4 is below most of them; a score of 8.9 or more is above all of them.
Why do some papers give TyG cut-offs around 4.6?
Those papers use a different version of the formula: ln(triglycerides × glucose) ÷ 2 instead of ln(triglycerides × glucose ÷ 2). Both rank people the same way, but the numbers differ. To convert, the standard value equals 2 × the smaller value minus 0.693, so 4.65 corresponds to about 8.61. The calculator shows your score on both scales.
Is the TyG index as good as HOMA-IR?
They answer the same question in different ways. HOMA-IR needs a fasting insulin test, which many routine panels do not include, while TyG uses tests most people already have. TyG correlates well with HOMA-IR in many studies, but neither is a diagnosis, and in a clamp study of lean young South Indian men both performed poorly. Use either one alongside HbA1c, waist size and your doctor's assessment.
Can medicines or diet change the result?
Yes. Triglycerides move quickly with recent eating, alcohol and weight change, and lipid-lowering or diabetes medicines change both numbers. Use a properly fasted sample (usually 10 to 12 hours, water only), and compare results taken under similar conditions. TyG is not designed for pregnancy or type 1 diabetes.
How do I lower my TyG index?
Lower triglycerides and fasting glucose together. The biggest levers are cutting sugary drinks, sweet chai and refined carbohydrates, eating protein and vegetables before rice or roti, limiting alcohol, walking after meals, regular strength training and losing waist fat if you carry extra. Recheck after about 3 months on the same lab and fasting routine.
TyG in the grey zone or above? Triglycerides respond fast.
High triglycerides and early insulin resistance respond well to food and movement changes. We build the plan around your labs, your food and your routine, online wherever you live.