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Levemir® offers 24-hour action at a once-daily dose for patients with type 2 diabetes1,2

Levemir®: 24-hour effect similar to insulin glargine3

Levemir® once daily demonstrated a similar glucose-lowering effect over 24 hours compared with insulin glargine3

Levemir 24-hour effect

Results from a 24-hour, randomized, double-blind, crossover study of 29 patients with type 2 diabetes to evaluate whether Levemir® and insulin glargine once daily yield similar 24-hour glycemic control. Patients were randomized to a single daily injection of Levemir® or insulin glargine at 8 pm. Insulin dose was titrated to achieve blood glucose goals of 70-120 mg/dL with <5% of the readings at <70 mg/dL between 12 am and 6 am. Patients were switched after 2 consecutive days at goal.3 Adapted from King, 2009.3

Levemir® once daily provided a glucose-lowering effect comparable to insulin glargine over a 24-hour period with a comparable dose (26.3 and 26.6 units/day, respectively).3

In another study, insulin action profiles of Levemir® and insulin glargine were similar at clinically relevant doses.1

Results from a 24-hour, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group comparison of the pharmacodynamic properties of Levemir® and insulin glargine in patients with type 2 diabetes under glucose clamp conditions (N=27). A 1.4-units/kg dose was also studied in this trial, with no observed difference in pharmacodynamic profile.1

Related Support

Learn about 24-hour action at a once-daily dose in patients with type 2 diabetes Watch Pablo Mora, MD, discuss a long-acting basal insulin analog that may help with day-to-day challenges of managing type 2 diabetes. You can also download this audio program and take it with you.

Review Levemir® clinical studies View a table of key studies and get access to published clinical data.

Up Next

See how Levemir® can help patients with type 2 diabetes reach their A1C goal

References:

  1. Klein O, Lynge J, Endhal L, Damholt B, Nosek L, Heise T. Albumin-bound basal insulin analogues (insulin detemir and NN344): comparable time-action profiles but less variability than insulin glargine in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2007;9(3):290-299.
  2. Philis-Tsimikas A, Charpentier G, Clauson P, Ravn GM, Roberts VL, Thorsteinsson B. Comparison of once-daily insulin detemir with NPH insulin added to a regimen of oral antidiabetic drugs in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. Clin Ther. 2006;28(10):1569-1581.
  3. Gumprecht J, Benroubi M, Borzi V, et al, on behalf of the IMPROVE™ Study Group Expert Panel. Intensification to biphasic insulin aspart 30/70 (BIAsp 30, NovoMix® 30) can improve glycaemic control in patients treated with basal insulins: a subgroup analysis of the IMPROVE™ observational study. Int J Clin Pract 2009;63(6):966-972.
  4. Heise T, Nosek L, Rønn BB, et al. Lower within-subject variability of insulin detemir in comparison to NPH insulin and insulin glargine in people with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes. 2004;53(6):1614-1620.
  5. Danne T, Datz N, Endahl L, et al. Insulin detemir is characterized by a more reproducible pharmacokinetic profile than insulin glargine in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: results from a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Pediatr Diabetes. 2008;9(6):554-560.

  1. Levemir® (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) Indications and Usage

    Levemir® is indicated for once- or twice-daily subcutaneous administration for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus or adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who require basal (long-acting) insulin for the control of hyperglycemia.

    Levemir® Important Safety Information

    Levemir® is contraindicated in patients hypersensitive to insulin detemir or one of its excipients.

    Levemir® should not be diluted or mixed with any other insulin preparations.

    Hypoglycemia is the most common adverse effect of all insulin therapies, including Levemir®. As with other insulins, the timing of hypoglycemic events may differ among various insulin preparations. Glucose monitoring is recommended for all patients with diabetes. Levemir® is not to be used in insulin infusion pumps. Any change of insulin dose should be made cautiously and only under medical supervision. Concomitant oral antidiabetes treatment may require adjustment.

    Needles and Levemir® FlexPen® must not be shared.

    Inadequate dosing or discontinuation of treatment may lead to hyperglycemia and, in patients with type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis. Insulin may cause sodium retention and edema, particularly if previously poor metabolic control is improved by intensified insulin therapy. Dose and timing of administration may need to be adjusted to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia in patients being switched to Levemir® from other intermediate or long-acting insulin preparations. The dose of Levemir® may need to be adjusted in patients with renal or hepatic impairment.

    Other adverse events commonly associated with insulin therapy may include injection site reactions (on average, 3% to 4% of patients in clinical trials) such as lipodystrophy, redness, pain, itching, hives, swelling, and inflammation. Less common but more serious are severe cases of generalized allergy, including anaphylactic reaction, which may be life threatening.

    *Whether these observed differences represent true differences in the effects of Levemir®, NPH insulin, and insulin glargine is not known since these trials were not blinded and the protocols (e.g., diet and exercise instructions and monitoring) were not specifically directed at exploring hypotheses related to weight effects of the treatments compared. The clinical significance of the observed differences in weight has not been established.

    Please click hereclick here for Prescribing Information.

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