Insulin unit converter
Convert insulin concentrations using the conversion factor specified by your laboratory.
Formula & units
Insulin (pmol/L) = insulin (µIU/mL) × selected factor
The default is 6.945, as listed in the linked Mayo catalog. A factor of 6.0 is also available for laboratories that use it. µIU/mL, mIU/L and µU/mL are numerically equivalent in this context.
Worked example
10 µIU/mL = 69.45 pmol/L using 6.945, or 60 pmol/L using 6.0.
What the result can tell you
Check your assay documentation. Different factors give different HOMA or QUICKI results for the same pmol/L input; unit conversion cannot correct assay calibration differences.
Read the interpretation guide →
Sources for this method
Questions about Insulin unit converter
Are serum and plasma insulin interchangeable?
Not necessarily. Oxford describes plasma-based inputs and notes that using serum insulin requires attention to assay differences and may need to be reported as a limitation.
Source: Oxford HOMA calculator and FAQs (opens in a new tab) · Related calculator → · Link to answer
Why do insulin converters use 6.0 or 6.945?
Different reporting conventions use different conversion factors. This site makes the factor explicit and defaults to the 6.945 factor in the linked Mayo catalog; check your laboratory.
Source: Mayo Clinic Laboratories · C-peptide (opens in a new tab) · Related calculator → · Link to answer
Should I stop medication before a fasting insulin test?
Ask the ordering clinician about medicines and supplements. Do not stop prescribed medication on your own to obtain a calculator result.
Source: MedlinePlus · Insulin in blood test (opens in a new tab) · Related calculator → · Link to answer
Related reading
HOMA-IR normal range: why cutoffs differ
A reference range only helps when it matches the model, assay and population used for your result.
Read the guide →LEARNING GUIDEFasting insulin vs HbA1c: what each test tells you
These markers describe different aspects of glucose regulation. One cannot be converted into the other.
Read the guide →LEARNING GUIDEFasting glucose and insulin test preparation
Start with the instructions for the tests actually ordered. A calculator cannot repair an unsuitable sample.
Read the guide →Related calculators
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HOMA1 insulin resistance, beta-cell estimate and reciprocal sensitivity.
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A logarithmic index from paired fasting glucose and insulin.
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