TyG Index
Triglyceride-Glucose Index
The TyG index combines two fasting blood tests: triglycerides and glucose. Researchers use it as an indirect clue about insulin resistance, when cells respond less well to insulin. It is not a diagnosis.
What does a higher TyG index mean?
A higher value has been associated with insulin resistance and health risks in studies. It does not prove that you have insulin resistance, diabetes or heart disease. The underlying glucose and triglyceride results are more useful for routine follow-up.
No universal clinical cutoff
Study thresholds vary with the population and calculation used. There is no established universal treatment target, so this page does not label a TyG value as healthy or unhealthy. It should not determine medication or diagnosis on its own.
Sources: PubMed Central
What can change this result?
What can raise it
- Higher fasting glucose, higher triglycerides, or both.
- Not fasting as instructed, which can change the two inputs.
What to focus on
- Less alcohol and fewer sugary drinks if triglycerides are high.
- Regular activity and an appropriate plan for high blood sugar.
TyG is a research index, not a treatment target. Compare results only when the formula and units match, and focus follow-up on the measured glucose and triglycerides.
What should I do next?
- Check that both source tests were fasting and collected under comparable conditions.
- Review the glucose and triglyceride results individually with your clinician.
- Use established tests, such as HbA1c or fasting glucose, when investigating diabetes.
How this test works
One widely used formula is ln[fasting triglycerides × fasting glucose ÷ 2], with both measurements in mg/dL. The natural logarithm makes the result unitless. Values calculated with a different formula or unconverted units are not interchangeable.