Glucose Disposal Rate (GDR) Calculator
What is Glucose Disposal Rate (GDR)?
The Glucose Disposal Rate (GDR) is a physiological metric used primarily in clinical research to quantify insulin sensitivity. It represents the amount of glucose that the body's tissues—primarily skeletal muscle—take up and utilize from the bloodstream per kilogram of body weight per minute.
GDR is typically measured during a Hyperinsulinemic-Euglycemic Clamp study, which remains the "gold standard" for evaluating insulin action in humans. During this procedure, insulin is infused at a constant rate to suppress hepatic glucose production, while glucose is infused at a variable rate to maintain stable blood sugar levels (euglycemia). At steady state, the glucose infusion rate (GIR) equals the glucose disposal rate (GDR).
The GDR Formula
The calculation is straightforward once the steady-state infusion rate is achieved:
Interpreting Your Results
Higher GDR values indicate high insulin sensitivity (the body is efficient at using glucose), while lower values suggest insulin resistance.
| GDR Range (mg/kg/min) | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Above 7.5 | High Insulin Sensitivity (Normal) |
| 4.0 to 7.5 | Moderate/Intermediate Sensitivity |
| Below 4.0 | Significant Insulin Resistance |
Example Calculation
If a study participant weighs 80 kg and requires a steady-state glucose infusion rate (GIR) of 600 mg/min to maintain euglycemia during the clamp, the calculation would be:
GDR = 600 / 80 = 7.5 mg/kg/min
This individual would be considered to have normal insulin sensitivity.