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TyG Index: A Simple Marker of Insulin Resistance

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Table of contents

What is it?Why it matters Reference ranges Sources

What is it?

The triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) is a simple measure based on routine lab results that helps assess your risk for conditions like diabetes and heart disease. It’s calculated using your fasting levels of triglycerides (a type of fat) and glucose (sugar).

Why it matters

The TyG serves as a surrogate marker for insulin resistance, a precursor to metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. Its predictive value for adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, has been demonstrated in several studies. Understanding your TyG index can give your healthcare provider valuable insight into your metabolic health and guide them in suggesting lifestyle changes to help lower your risk of serious health concerns.

Reference ranges

Evidence-based consensus may be reached on TyG reference ranges in the future. However, until that time, the following reference intervals, based on current evidence, are proposed for NiaHealth (calculated using original formula): a TyG value below 4.53 is considered optimal, values between 4.53 and 4.89 are categorized as at risk, and values above 4.90 are considered elevated (high risk).

D’Elia, L., Masulli, M., Virdis, A., Casiglia, E., Tikhonoff, V., Angeli, F., Barbagallo, C. M., Bombelli, M., Cappelli, F., Cianci, R., Ciccarelli, M., Cicero, A. F. G., Cirillo, M., Cirillo, P., Dell’Oro, R., Desideri, G., Ferri, C., Gesualdo, L., Giannattasio, C., … Galletti, F. (2025). Triglyceride-glucose index and mortality in a large regional-based Italian database (URRAH project). The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 110(2), e470–e477. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgae170

Ke, J., Ruan, X., Liu, W., Liu, X., Wu, K., Qiu, H., Wang, X., Ding, Y., Tan, X., Li, Z., & Cao, G. (2024). Prospective cohort studies underscore the association of abnormal glycemic measures with all-cause and cause-specific mortalities. iScience, 27(7), 110233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.110233

Lopez-Jaramillo, P., Gomez-Arbelaez, D., Martinez-Bello, D., Abat, M. E. M., Alhabib, K. F., Avezum, Á., Barbarash, O., Chifamba, J., Diaz, M. L., Gulec, S., Ismail, N., Iqbal, R., Kelishadi, R., Khatib, R., Lanas, F., Levitt, N. S., Li, Y., Mohan, V., Mony, P. K., … Yusuf, S. (2023). Association of the triglyceride glucose index as a measure of insulin resistance with mortality and cardiovascular disease in populations from five continents (PURE study): a prospective cohort study. The Lancet. Healthy Longevity, 4(1), e23–e33. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7568(22)00247-1

Yin, J.-L., Yang, J., Song, X.-J., Qin, X., Chang, Y.-J., Chen, X., Liu, F.-H., Li, Y.-Z., Xu, H.-L., Wei, Y.-F., Cao, F., Bai, X.-L., Wu, L., Tao, T., Du, J., Gong, T.-T., & Wu, Q.-J. (2024). Triglyceride-glucose index and health outcomes: an umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 23(1), 177. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12933-024-02241-y

This information is educational and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your results should be interpreted with a qualified healthcare professional in the context of your health history.

TyG Index: A Simple Marker of Insulin Resistance

What is it?

Why it matters

Reference ranges

Sources

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