What to Do If Your Insulin Is Being Discontinued

Key TakeawaysNovo Nordisk is discontinuing one of its discounted insulin brands, Levemir, because of manufacturing issues, decreasing patient coverage, and the availability of alternative treatments.Levemir is a long-acting insulin that’s used to control high blood sugar levels in adults and children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.There are alternative insulins that could replace Levemir; however, endocrinologists and doctors advise patients to check in with their healthcare provider before making a switch.

Key Takeaways

Novo Nordisk is discontinuing one of its discounted insulin brands, Levemir, because of manufacturing issues, decreasing patient coverage, and the availability of alternative treatments.Levemir is a long-acting insulin that’s used to control high blood sugar levels in adults and children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.There are alternative insulins that could replace Levemir; however, endocrinologists and doctors advise patients to check in with their healthcare provider before making a switch.

Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has announced it will be discontinuing one of its discounted insulin brands: Levemir (insulin detemir), a long-acting insulin taken to control high blood sugar. This news comes months after Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and Novo Nordisk announcedinsulin list price cutsof up to 70%.

While other insulins are available, you’re not going to want to make the switch overnight. Here’s what you can do to prepare if you take Levemir, according to experts.

Your Provider Should Be Well-Versed in Alternative Insulin Brands

Insulin discontinuation isn’t uncommon, Mihail Zilbermint, MD, MBA, director of endocrine hospitalists at Johns Hopkins Community Physicians, told Verywell. As of 2019, 62 insulin products had been removed from the market.

Luckily, there are many alternative insulins, both rapid-acting and long-acting. Zilbermint highlights Lantus (insulin glargine) as a good option. Although Levermir and Lantus have different chemical structures, both are typically used to help control blood sugar levels overnight.

If your insulin is being discontinued, Zilbermint recommends consulting with your primary care provider and endocrinologist first before switching insulins or stockpiling Levemir. Endocrinologists can discuss both insulin alternatives and dosages, as well as help you develop a plan to keep your blood sugar in check.

Insulin options and dosing will vary from person to person. However, Zilbermint said endocrinologists typically transition doses one to one. For example, someone who’s taking 20 units of Levemir at night will likely be transitioned to 20 units of Lantus.

“They’re similar and work in approximately 24 hours,” he said.

After switching insulins, Zilbermint recommends that patients monitor their blood sugar a little more closely.

“We want to make sure that the new insulin regimen is going to control a patient’s blood sugar levels and allow for necessary adjustments to be made, if needed,” he said.

Switching Insulin Brands May Mean Fewer Injections

One potential positive of switching insulins is that people who’ve been prescribed two daily doses of Levemir may be able to drop down to one dose of another brand.

Pregnant People May Be Impacted the Most

What This Means For You

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Novo Nordisk.What is Levemir?.Feldman R.Leading with the trailing edge: facilitating patient choice for insulin products.J Law Biosci. 2023;10(2):lsad033. doi:10.1093/jlb/lsad033Ringholm L, Do NC, Damm P, Mathiesen ER.Pregnancy outcomes in women with type 1 diabetes using insulin degludec.Acta Diabetol. 2022;59(5):721-727. doi:10.1007/s00592-021-01845-0

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Novo Nordisk.What is Levemir?.Feldman R.Leading with the trailing edge: facilitating patient choice for insulin products.J Law Biosci. 2023;10(2):lsad033. doi:10.1093/jlb/lsad033Ringholm L, Do NC, Damm P, Mathiesen ER.Pregnancy outcomes in women with type 1 diabetes using insulin degludec.Acta Diabetol. 2022;59(5):721-727. doi:10.1007/s00592-021-01845-0

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Novo Nordisk.What is Levemir?.Feldman R.Leading with the trailing edge: facilitating patient choice for insulin products.J Law Biosci. 2023;10(2):lsad033. doi:10.1093/jlb/lsad033Ringholm L, Do NC, Damm P, Mathiesen ER.Pregnancy outcomes in women with type 1 diabetes using insulin degludec.Acta Diabetol. 2022;59(5):721-727. doi:10.1007/s00592-021-01845-0

Novo Nordisk.What is Levemir?.

Feldman R.Leading with the trailing edge: facilitating patient choice for insulin products.J Law Biosci. 2023;10(2):lsad033. doi:10.1093/jlb/lsad033

Ringholm L, Do NC, Damm P, Mathiesen ER.Pregnancy outcomes in women with type 1 diabetes using insulin degludec.Acta Diabetol. 2022;59(5):721-727. doi:10.1007/s00592-021-01845-0

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