What is Levemir®?
Levemir® is a long-acting insulin that can be taken once or twice daily to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes.
Same insulin, different pen
Levemir® FlexTouch® will be discontinued as of early February 2023 and replaced by Levemir® FlexPen®, a slightly different type of prefilled pen. If you are currently taking Levemir®, you will notice that your pen looks slightly different when you pick it up from the pharmacy. Be sure to watch the video to learn how to use the FlexPen®.
Have questions about Levemir®?
Call 1-800-727-6500.
Important things to remember:
- The insulin is the same—only the pen is different
- Your co-pay will not change
How to use Levemir® FlexPen®
Watch our step-by-step video on how to use the Levemir® FlexPen® or download the Levemir® FlexPen® quick guide.
Get to know another insulin option
Learn about another once-daily, long-acting insulin from Novo Nordisk, Tresiba® (insulin degludec) injection 100 U/mL. Tresiba® provides full 24-hour blood sugar control with powerful A1C reduction
What is Levemir® (insulin detemir) injection 100 U/mL?
- Levemir® is a man-made insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes mellitus.
- Levemir® is not for people with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine).
Levemir® Important Safety Information
Do not share your Levemir® FlexPen® with other people, even if the needle has been changed. Do not share needles or syringes with another person. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.
Who should not take Levemir®?
Do not take Levemir® if:
- you are having an episode of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
- you have an allergy to Levemir® or any of the ingredients in Levemir®.
Before taking Levemir®, tell your health care provider about all your medical conditions including, if you:
- take any other medicines, especially medicines commonly called TZDs (thiazolidinediones)
- are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Tell your healthcare provider all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements. Before you start taking Levemir®, talk to your health care provider about low blood sugar and how to manage it.
How should I take Levemir®?
- Read the Instructions for Use and take exactly as directed.
- Know the type and strength of your insulin. Do not change your insulin type unless your health care provider tells you to.
- Check your blood sugar levels. Ask your health care provider what your blood sugar levels should be and when you should check your blood sugar levels.
- Do not reuse or share your needles or syringes with other people. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.
- Do not inject Levemir® into a vein or muscle.
- Change (rotate) your injection sites within the area you choose with each injection to reduce your risk of getting lipodystrophy (pits in skin or thickened skin) and localized cutaneous amyloidosis (skin with lumps) at the injection sites.
- Do not use the exact same spot for each injection.
- Do not inject where the skin has pits, is thickened, or has lumps.
- Do not inject where the skin is tender, bruised, scaly or hard, or into scars or damaged skin.
What should I avoid while taking Levemir®?
- Do not drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how it affects you.
- Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that contain alcohol.
What are the possible side effects of Levemir®?
Serious side effects can lead to death, including:
- low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Low blood sugar can be a serious, but common side effect of Levemir®. Signs and symptoms that may indicate low blood sugar include dizziness, light-headedness, sweating, confusion, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heartbeat, anxiety, irritability, mood changes, and hunger.
- severe allergic reactions. Severe allergic reactions are a potential side effect of Levemir®. Get emergency medical help if you have trouble breathing, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, swelling, swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, sweating, extreme drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion.
- low potassium in your blood (hypokalemia)
- heart failure. Taking certain diabetes pills called TZDs (thiazolidinediones) with Levemir® may cause heart failure in some people. This can happen even if you have never had heart failure or heart problems before. If you already have heart failure, it may get worse while you take TZDs with Levemir®. Tell your healthcare provider if you have new or worse symptoms of heart failure including shortness of breath, swelling of ankles or feel, and sudden weight gain. Treatment with TZDs and Levemir® may need to be changed or stopped by your healthcare provider if you have new or worse heart failure.
Other common side effects include:
- injection site reactions, skin thickening or pits at the injection site (lipodystrophy), weight gain, swelling of your hands and feet, rash, and itching.
Your insulin dose may need to change because of:
- change in level of physical activity or exercise, weight gain or loss, increased stress, illness, or change in diet.
What is Levemir® (insulin detemir) injection 100 U/mL?
- Levemir® is a man-made insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes mellitus.
- Levemir® is not for people with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine).
Please click here for Levemir® Prescribing Information.
What is Tresiba®?
- Prescription Tresiba® is a long-acting insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults and children who are 1 year of age and older with diabetes
- Tresiba® is not for people with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine)
- It is not known if Tresiba® is safe and effective in children under 1 year of age
- Tresiba® is available in 2 concentrations: 200 units/mL and 100 units/mL
Important Safety Information
Do not share your Tresiba® FlexTouch® with other people, even if the needle has been changed. Do not share needles or syringes with another person. You may give other people a serious infection, or get a serious infection from them.
Who should not take Tresiba®?
Do not take Tresiba® if you:
- are having an episode of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- have an allergy to Tresiba® or any of the ingredients in Tresiba®
Before taking Tresiba®, tell your health care provider about all your medical conditions, including if you are:
- pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
- taking new prescription or over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements
Talk to your health care provider about low blood sugar and how to manage it.
How should I take Tresiba®?
- Read the Instructions for Use and take Tresiba® exactly as your health care provider tells you to
- Do not do any conversion of your dose. The dose counter always shows the selected dose in units
- Know the type and strength of insulin you take. Do not change the type of insulin you take unless your health care provider tells you to
- Adults - If you miss or are delayed in taking your dose of Tresiba®:
- Take your dose as soon as you remember, then continue with your regular dosing schedule
- Make sure there are at least 8 hours between doses
- If children miss a dose of Tresiba®:
- Call the healthcare provider for information and instructions about checking blood sugar levels more often until the next scheduled dose of Tresiba®
- For children who need less than 5 units of Tresiba® each day, use a Tresiba® U-100 vial
- Check your blood sugar levels. Ask your health care provider what your blood sugar levels should be and when you should check them
- Do not reuse or share your needles or syringes with other people. You may give them a serious infection, or get a serious infection from them
- Never inject Tresiba® into a vein or muscle
- Never use a syringe to remove Tresiba® from the FlexTouch® pen
- Tresiba® can be injected under the skin (subcutaneously) of your upper legs (thighs), upper arms, or stomach area (abdomen).
- Change (rotate) your injection sites within the area you choose with each injection to reduce your risk of getting lipodystrophy (pits in skin or thickened skin) and localized cutaneous amyloidosis (skin with lumps) at the injection sites.
- Do not use the exact same spot for each injection.
- Do not inject where the skin has pits, is thickened, or has lumps.
- Do not inject where the skin is tender, bruised, scaly or hard, or into scars or damaged skin.
What should I avoid while taking Tresiba®?
- Do not drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how Tresiba® affects you
- Do not drink alcohol or use prescription or over-the-counter medicines that contain alcohol
What are the possible side effects of Tresiba®?
Tresiba® may cause serious side effects that can be life-threatening, including:
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Signs and symptoms that may indicate low blood sugar include dizziness, light-headedness, sweating, confusion, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heart beat, anxiety, irritability, mood changes, and hunger.
- Low potassium in your blood (hypokalemia)
- Heart failure in some people if taken with thiazolidinediones (TZDs). This can happen even if you have never had heart failure or heart problems. If you already have heart failure, it may get worse while you take TZDs with Tresiba®. Tell your health care provider if you have any new or worse symptoms of heart failure including shortness of breath, tiredness, swelling of your ankles or feet, and sudden weight gain
Your insulin dose may need to change because of change in level of physical activity or exercise, increased stress, change in diet, weight gain or loss, or illness.
- Common side effects may include serious allergic reactions (whole body reactions), reactions at the injection site, skin thickening or pits at the injection site (lipodystrophy), itching, rash, swelling of your hands and feet, and weight gain.
Get emergency medical help if you have trouble breathing, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, sweating, extreme drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion.
What is Tresiba®?
- Prescription Tresiba® is a long-acting insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults and children who are 1 year of age and older with diabetes
- Tresiba® is not for people with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine)
- It is not known if Tresiba® is safe and effective in children under 1 year of age
- Tresiba® is available in 2 concentrations: 200 units/mL and 100 units/mL
Please click here for Prescribing Information.
What is Levemir® (insulin detemir) injection 100 U/mL?
- Levemir® is a man-made insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes mellitus.
- Levemir® is not for people with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine).
Levemir® Important Safety Information
Do not share your Levemir® FlexPen® with other people, even if the needle has been changed. Do not share needles or syringes with another person. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.
Who should not take Levemir®?
Do not take Levemir® if:
- you are having an episode of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
- you have an allergy to Levemir® or any of the ingredients in Levemir®.
Before taking Levemir®, tell your health care provider about all your medical conditions including, if you:
- take any other medicines, especially medicines commonly called TZDs (thiazolidinediones)
- are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Tell your healthcare provider all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements. Before you start taking Levemir®, talk to your health care provider about low blood sugar and how to manage it.
How should I take Levemir®?
- Read the Instructions for Use and take exactly as directed.
- Know the type and strength of your insulin. Do not change your insulin type unless your health care provider tells you to.
- Check your blood sugar levels. Ask your health care provider what your blood sugar levels should be and when you should check your blood sugar levels.
- Do not reuse or share your needles or syringes with other people. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.
- Do not inject Levemir® into a vein or muscle.
- Change (rotate) your injection sites within the area you choose with each injection to reduce your risk of getting lipodystrophy (pits in skin or thickened skin) and localized cutaneous amyloidosis (skin with lumps) at the injection sites.
- Do not use the exact same spot for each injection.
- Do not inject where the skin has pits, is thickened, or has lumps.
- Do not inject where the skin is tender, bruised, scaly or hard, or into scars or damaged skin.
What should I avoid while taking Levemir®?
- Do not drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how it affects you.
- Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that contain alcohol.
What are the possible side effects of Levemir®?
Serious side effects can lead to death, including:
- low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Low blood sugar can be a serious, but common side effect of Levemir®. Signs and symptoms that may indicate low blood sugar include dizziness, light-headedness, sweating, confusion, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heartbeat, anxiety, irritability, mood changes, and hunger.
- severe allergic reactions. Severe allergic reactions are a potential side effect of Levemir®. Get emergency medical help if you have trouble breathing, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, swelling, swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, sweating, extreme drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion.
- low potassium in your blood (hypokalemia)
- heart failure. Taking certain diabetes pills called TZDs (thiazolidinediones) with Levemir® may cause heart failure in some people. This can happen even if you have never had heart failure or heart problems before. If you already have heart failure, it may get worse while you take TZDs with Levemir®. Tell your healthcare provider if you have new or worse symptoms of heart failure including shortness of breath, swelling of ankles or feel, and sudden weight gain. Treatment with TZDs and Levemir® may need to be changed or stopped by your healthcare provider if you have new or worse heart failure.
Other common side effects include:
- injection site reactions, skin thickening or pits at the injection site (lipodystrophy), weight gain, swelling of your hands and feet, rash, and itching.
Your insulin dose may need to change because of:
- change in level of physical activity or exercise, weight gain or loss, increased stress, illness, or change in diet.
What is Levemir® (insulin detemir) injection 100 U/mL?
- Levemir® is a man-made insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes mellitus.
- Levemir® is not for people with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine).
Please click here for Levemir® Prescribing Information.
What is Tresiba®?
- Prescription Tresiba® is a long-acting insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults and children who are 1 year of age and older with diabetes
- Tresiba® is not for people with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine)
- It is not known if Tresiba® is safe and effective in children under 1 year of age
- Tresiba® is available in 2 concentrations: 200 units/mL and 100 units/mL
Important Safety Information
Do not share your Tresiba® FlexTouch® with other people, even if the needle has been changed. Do not share needles or syringes with another person. You may give other people a serious infection, or get a serious infection from them.
Who should not take Tresiba®?
Do not take Tresiba® if you:
- are having an episode of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- have an allergy to Tresiba® or any of the ingredients in Tresiba®
Before taking Tresiba®, tell your health care provider about all your medical conditions, including if you are:
- pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
- taking new prescription or over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements
Talk to your health care provider about low blood sugar and how to manage it.
How should I take Tresiba®?
- Read the Instructions for Use and take Tresiba® exactly as your health care provider tells you to
- Do not do any conversion of your dose. The dose counter always shows the selected dose in units
- Know the type and strength of insulin you take. Do not change the type of insulin you take unless your health care provider tells you to
- Adults - If you miss or are delayed in taking your dose of Tresiba®:
- Take your dose as soon as you remember, then continue with your regular dosing schedule
- Make sure there are at least 8 hours between doses
- If children miss a dose of Tresiba®:
- Call the healthcare provider for information and instructions about checking blood sugar levels more often until the next scheduled dose of Tresiba®
- For children who need less than 5 units of Tresiba® each day, use a Tresiba® U-100 vial
- Check your blood sugar levels. Ask your health care provider what your blood sugar levels should be and when you should check them
- Do not reuse or share your needles or syringes with other people. You may give them a serious infection, or get a serious infection from them
- Never inject Tresiba® into a vein or muscle
- Never use a syringe to remove Tresiba® from the FlexTouch® pen
- Tresiba® can be injected under the skin (subcutaneously) of your upper legs (thighs), upper arms, or stomach area (abdomen).
- Change (rotate) your injection sites within the area you choose with each injection to reduce your risk of getting lipodystrophy (pits in skin or thickened skin) and localized cutaneous amyloidosis (skin with lumps) at the injection sites.
- Do not use the exact same spot for each injection.
- Do not inject where the skin has pits, is thickened, or has lumps.
- Do not inject where the skin is tender, bruised, scaly or hard, or into scars or damaged skin.
What should I avoid while taking Tresiba®?
- Do not drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how Tresiba® affects you
- Do not drink alcohol or use prescription or over-the-counter medicines that contain alcohol
What are the possible side effects of Tresiba®?
Tresiba® may cause serious side effects that can be life-threatening, including:
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Signs and symptoms that may indicate low blood sugar include dizziness, light-headedness, sweating, confusion, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heart beat, anxiety, irritability, mood changes, and hunger.
- Low potassium in your blood (hypokalemia)
- Heart failure in some people if taken with thiazolidinediones (TZDs). This can happen even if you have never had heart failure or heart problems. If you already have heart failure, it may get worse while you take TZDs with Tresiba®. Tell your health care provider if you have any new or worse symptoms of heart failure including shortness of breath, tiredness, swelling of your ankles or feet, and sudden weight gain
Your insulin dose may need to change because of change in level of physical activity or exercise, increased stress, change in diet, weight gain or loss, or illness.
- Common side effects may include serious allergic reactions (whole body reactions), reactions at the injection site, skin thickening or pits at the injection site (lipodystrophy), itching, rash, swelling of your hands and feet, and weight gain.
Get emergency medical help if you have trouble breathing, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, sweating, extreme drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion.
What is Tresiba®?
- Prescription Tresiba® is a long-acting insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults and children who are 1 year of age and older with diabetes
- Tresiba® is not for people with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine)
- It is not known if Tresiba® is safe and effective in children under 1 year of age
- Tresiba® is available in 2 concentrations: 200 units/mL and 100 units/mL
Please click here for Prescribing Information.
Look up your cost at MyLevemirCost.com.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1‑800-FDA-1088.
If you need assistance with prescription costs, help may be available. Visit www.pparx.org or call 1‑888-4PPA-NOW.
Talk to your health care provider about your diabetes management plan, including diet and exercise.
Tresiba® (insulin degludec) injection Indication and Important Safety Information
What is Tresiba®?
