A subpopulation of Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who have elevated insulin clearance (IC) exists. We tested our hypothesis that it is possible to estimate IC using common and simple test results collected in routine clinical practice.

We recruited patients with newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve T2DM and measured the metabolic clearance rate of insulin (MCRI) determined by a hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamp examination. Multivariable regression analysis was performed with body mass index (BMI), serum uric acid (UA), and fasting plasma insulin (F-IRI) which were independently associated with IC increase in our previous reports as explanatory variables to calculate a prediction equation for MCRI.

We enrolled 101 patients in this study. Because MCRI is not normally distributed, we calculated the logarithmically transformed estimated Log10MCRI as a prediction formula for IC. Multivariable regression analysis showed that Log10BMI (β =  − 0.3257, P < 0.001), UA (β =  − 0.1834, P = 0.0081), and Log10F-IRI (β =  − 0.4367, P < 0.001) were significant independent factors for Log10MCRI. The regression equation was as follows: estimated Log10MCRI =  − 0.5421 × Log10BMI − 0.0167 × UA − 0.1792 × Log10F-IRI + 3.8251 (r = 0.7677, R2 = 0.5894, P < 0.001).

IC can easily be predicted using BMI, UA, and F-IRI which are common and simple test results collected in routine clinical practice.