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Levemir® provided more consistent absorption and action than insulin glargine and NPH1-3

Levemir® offers consistent insulin absorption and action

Individual time-action profiles (glucose infusion rate over time)2

Levemir® demonstrated a lower coefficient of variation than insulin glargine and NPH insulin (27%, 48%, and 68%, respectively; P<0.001).2

The clinical significance of this difference has not been established.

Levemir® demonstrated significantly less within-patient variability compared with insulin glargine and NPH2

A single-center, parallel-group, double-blind study compared within-subject variability of glucose-lowering effect of Levemir® with insulin glargine and NPH insulin. Patients with type 1 diabetes received 4 subcutaneous doses of 0.4 units/kg of Levemir® (n=18), insulin glargine (n=16), or NPH insulin (n=17) on 4 identical nonconsecutive study days. Study followed glucose clamp conditions.2 Adapted from Heise et al, 2004.2

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

Learn about the Levemir® mechanism of action

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. 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.
  3. 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.

FlexPen® and Levemir® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk.
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