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Insulin Unit Converter
Insulin is a peptide hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas. It is essential for regulating blood glucose by promoting the uptake of glucose into muscle, fat, and liver cells. Insulin is synthesized as Proinsulin and cleaved into active insulin and C-Peptide.
Clinically, serum insulin levels are measured to help diagnose insulin resistance, monitor fasting hypoglycemia, and classify the type of diabetes (usually alongside C-Peptide). Due to its rapid metabolism, insulin levels are highly sensitive to fasting status and meal intake. Results are reported in activity units (µIU/mL) or molar units (pmol/L).
SI Units / Activity
RecommendedPicomoles per liter or Micro-International Units per milliliter (numerically pmol/L ≈ 6 × µIU/mL).
Molar / Mass Equivalents
Clinical Context
Fasting Reference Range: Typically 2–25 µIU/mL (12–150 pmol/L).
Insulin levels are highly variable. Levels > 10 µIU/mL in the fasting state may suggest insulin resistance or insulinoma. The standard clinical conversion factor is: 1 µIU/mL ≈ 6.0 pmol/L. The mass conversion to ng/mL is complex but necessary for some assays (1 µIU/mL ≈ 0.0344 ng/mL).
Clinical References
How to Use This Calculator
Follow these steps to get accurate clinical conversions instantly.
Enter Values
Input your laboratory results into the corresponding unit field (e.g., µIU/mL). You can use either dot or comma decimals.
Automatic Conversion
The calculator works in real-time. Conversions cover molarity (pmol/L) and approximate mass (ng/mL).
Verify Units
Check the SI Units section. pmol/L is the international standard.
Reset
Use the Clear button to reset all fields before starting a new calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions & Tips
No. mIU/mL is 1000 times larger than µIU/mL. Note that insulin testing primarily uses µIU/mL.
The International Unit (IU) is based on biological activity, which does not map perfectly to the hormone’s molecular weight, making the conversion approximate.