Levemir flextouch (Insulin detemir) is a man-made form of insulin, a hormone that is produced in the body. It works by lowering the levels of glucose (sugar) present in the blood. Insulin detemir is a long-acting type of insulin that is slightly different from the other forms of insulin that are not man-made. Insulin detemir is a long-acting type or form of insulin. Insulin is one of numerous hormones that help the body turn the food we eat into usable energy. It is done by using the glucose (sugar) in the patient’s blood as quick energy. Also, insulin helps us to store energy that we can use later on. When you have diabetes mellitus, your body cannot make enough insulin for metabolism or does not use insulin properly. So, you must normally take additional insulin to regulate your blood sugar level and keep your body healthy. This is very important as excess (too much) sugar in your blood can be very harmful to your health.
Insulin detemir is a long-acting insulin that works slowly over a period of about 24 hours. You may have to use the insulin detemir in combination with another type of insulin or with oral diabetes medicine to keep your blood sugar under strict control. However, this medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
Having looked at the uses of Levemir, dosage of Levemir now let us look at Levemir side effects which may occur after we have been administered this drug. The side effects of Levemir may range from minor which may easily disappear to severe Levemir side effects which may require immediate medical attention.
Get emergency medical help if you have the signs of insulin allergy to Levemir: redness or swelling where an injection has been given, itchy skin rash all over the body, trouble in breathing, feeling like you may pass out, fast heartbeats, or swelling in your throat or tongue.
Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following:
Common Levemir side effects may also include:
You should check with your doctor immediately if any of these side effects occur when you are taking insulin detemir:
Incidence not known:
Some Levemir side effects that can occur with insulin detemir may not need any medical attention. As your body tries to adjust to the medicine during treatment these side effects may go away or disappear. Your health care professional or doctor may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of the side effects. If any of these following side effects continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions or doubts about them, check with your health care professional or pharmacist:
Incidence not known:
Severe hypoglycemia is defined as third party intervention, occurred in approximately 6% of patients receiving this insulin detemir (which is the active ingredient contained in Levemir) in clinical trials. Weight gain has been reported with the insulin therapy and has been attributed to the anabolic effects of insulin and the decrease in glucosuria
The injection site reactions seem to occur more frequently with insulin detemir (the active ingredient contained inside Levemir) than with other human insulin products. Reactions have included pain, inflammation, bruising, redness, hives, swelling, and itching at the injection site. Most of the injection site reactions have been minor and transitory, disappearing within a few days to a few weeks, even with the continuation of treatment. There may be other side effects of Levemir flextouch that have not been mentioned here. Call your doctor or pharmacist for medical advice about the side effects. You may report the side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Uses of Levemir Flextouch
Main uses of levemir flextouch are: to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with diabetes mellitus, to treat type 2 diabetes in adults, also used to treat type 1 diabetes in adults and children who are at least 2 years of age. It is very important to note that there may be other uses of levemir flextouch (levemir flextouch uses) that have not been mentioned in this document.
Important points to note
You are advised not use Levemir flextouch if you are allergic to insulin detemir, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with the help of a short-acting insulin).
You should never share a Levemir flextouch injection pen or syringe with another person, even if the needle has been changed.
There are many other drugs than can potentially interfere with the effects of Levemir flextouch. It is extremely important that you should tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications that you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and other herbal products. Do not start a new medication without informing your doctor.
Watch Out
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can occur if you skip one meal, exercise for too long, drink alcohol, or if you are under stress. An insulin overdose can cause a life-threatening hypoglycemia. Know some of the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them, they are: headache, hunger, weakness, tremors, sweating, irritability, or trouble in concentration. Be sure that your family and close friends know how to help you when there is an emergency.
Before taking this medicine you should take note of the following
You should not use Levemir flextouch if you are allergic to insulin detemir, or if you are having an episode of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Levemir flextouch should not be given to any child younger than 2 years of age. Levemir should never be used to treat type 2 diabetes in a child that is of any age.
To make sure Levemir flextouch is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have the following:
You should tell your doctor if you also take pioglitazone or rosiglitazone (they are sometimes contained in combinations with Metformin or Glimepiride). Taking some particular oral diabetes medicines while you are using Levemir flextouch may increase your risk of having serious heart problems.
Strictly follow your doctor's instructions about using Levemir if you are pregnant or if you are breastfeeding a baby. Blood sugar control is very, very important during patient’s a pregnancy, and your dosage needs may be different during each trimester of your pregnancy. Your dosage needs may also be different while you are breastfeeding. It is however important for us to recall that disrespect of the dosage of levemir flextouch may lead to adverse side effects of Levemir flextouch. Levemir uses our body fluids to help us control the sugar levels that can give us hope during this moment of illness.
Dosage of Levemir Flextouch
Dosage of levemir flextouch: When using this drug, one must follow strict dosage of levemir flextouch which will direct one on how to use it.
The usual Adult Dose of Levemir for Diabetes Type 1:
The dose should be individualized based on a clinical response; this basal insulin should be used in regimens with short-acting insulin
Initial dose: One-third of the total daily insulin requirement is given subcutaneously once a day or in divided doses twice a day
Once daily dosing should be administered alongside the evening meal or at bedtime; twice daily dosing should be given in the morning and evening; the evening dose may be given with dinner, at bedtime, or exactly 12 hours after the morning dose
Maintenance dose: Adjusted according to metabolic needs, the blood glucose measurements, and the glycemic goals
Conversion from the Other Insulin Therapies: Insulin glargine and NPH insulin can be converted respecting the unit to unit basis; keenly monitor blood glucose during the transition and in the initial weeks that follow, the dosage and frequency of short-acting insulin may need to be adjusted.
Insulin Naïve Patients
The initial total daily insulin requirement in insulin naive patients is generally 0.2 to 0.4 units of insulin in one kilogram of their body weight.
Use: To improve the glycemic control in patients with the type 1 diabetes mellitus.
The usual Adult Dose of Levemir for Diabetes Type 2:
The dose should be individualized based on their clinical response
Insulin-naive: Initial dose: 10 units (or 0.1 to 0.2 units/kg) given subcutaneously once a day or in divided doses twice a day
For patients who are inadequately controlled on a GLP-1 receptor agonist: Initial dose: 10 units subcutaneously once a day
Maintenance dose: to be adjusted according to metabolic needs, measurements of blood glucose, and the glycemic goals
Conversion from some Other Insulin Therapies: Insulin glargine and NPH insulin can also be converted to a unit by unit basis; however, some patients may require much more insulin detemir than NPH insulin.
Directives -Once daily dosing should be administered alongside the evening meal or at bedtime; twice daily dosing should be given in the mornings and evenings; the evening dose may be given with the patient’s dinner, at bedtime, or 12 hours after giving the morning dose.
When changing the treatment regimens, the dosage and frequency of short-acting insulins and/or doses of any other anti-diabetic drugs may need to be readjusted.
Keenly monitor blood glucose during periods of transition and in the initial weeks that follow.
Use: To improve the glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The usual Pediatric Dose of Levemir for Diabetes Type 1:
Age: 2 years or older:
The dose should be individualized based on a clinical response; this basal insulin should be used in regimens with the short-acting insulin
Initial dose: One-third of the total daily insulin requirement subcutaneously once a day or in divided doses twice daily
Once a day dosing should be administered with the evening meal or at bedtime; twice a day dosing should be given morning and evening; the evening dose may be given with the dinner, at bedtime, or 12 hours after the morning dose was given
Maintenance dose: Adjust it according to metabolic needs, blood glucose measurements, and the glycemic goals
Conversion from the Other Insulin Therapies: Insulin glargine and NPH insulin can be converted based on unit to unit; strictly monitor blood glucose during the transition and in the initial weeks following, the dose and frequency of the short-acting insulin may need to be readjusted.
Requirements for insulin naïve patients: -The initial total daily insulin requirement in insulin naive patients is generally (standard) 0.2 to 0.4 units of insulin per kilogram of their body weight.
Use: To improve the glycemic control in pediatric patients 2 years or older with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
There may be other forms of dosage of Levemir, which have not been mentioned here.
You are advised to use Levemir flextouch exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all the directions on your drug prescription label. Do not use this medicine (levemir) in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended by your doctor.
Levemir flextouch is injected under the skin. You will be shown how to use the injections at home. Please do not give yourself this medicine if you do not understand how to use the injection and properly dispose of the used needles and syringes.
If you are using Levemir once in a day, use the injection during your evening meal or at bedtime. If you use the medicine twice a day, use your evening dose at least 12 hours after taking your morning dose.
Your care provider will show you the best places or sites on your body to inject Levemir. Use a different place each time that you give an injection. Do not inject into the same place up to two times in a row.
Your doctor may also want you to use a short-acting insulin in addition to Levemir. It is advisable that you always inject your insulins separately. Levemir flexitouch must not be given with an insulin pump, or mixed together with other insulins. Do well not to inject Levemir into a vein or a muscle as this may lead to some negative side effects of Levemir flextouch
Never change the apparatus: If you are using an injection pen, use only the particular injection pen that comes with your Levemir. Always attach a new needle before each use. You should never transfer the insulin from the pen into a syringe.
Advice: It is important that you should never share an injection pen or syringe with any other person, even if the Levemir needle has been changed. Sharing these devices can allow dangerous infections or disease to pass from one person to the other.
How to Dispose: It is good to use a disposable needle and syringe only once. Follow any state or local laws about the throwing away of used needles and syringes. Always use a puncture-proof "sharps" disposal container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to throw it away). Keep this trash container out of the reach of little children and/or pets.
Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar: Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can happen to everyone who suffers from diabetes. The symptoms include headache, hunger, sweating, dizziness, irritability, nausea, fast heart rate, and feeling shaky or anxious. To quickly treat this low blood sugar, it is advisable to always keep a fast-acting source of sugar with you such as a fruit juice, hard candy, raisins, crackers, or non-diet soda.
Emergency: Your medical expert can prescribe a glucagon emergency injection kit to use in case you have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink anything. Be sure that your family and close friends know how to give you this injection in the case of an emergency. Wear a diabetes medical alert tag in case of an emergency. Any medical care provider who treats you should know that you are suffering from diabetes.
Also watch out for signs of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) such as increased thirst or urination, headache, blurred vision, and tiredness.
Blood sugar levels can also be affected by stress, illness, exercise, alcohol use, surgery, or skipping meals. Always ask your doctor before changing your insulin dose or schedule.
Levemir is only a part of a complete treatment program that may also include diet, weight control, regular blood sugar testing, exercise, and special medical care. Follow your medical doctor's instructions very closely.
Storage
Keep your Levemir in its original container protected from light and heat. Do not draw insulin from a vial into a syringe until when you are ready to give an injection. Do not freeze the insulin or store it near the cooling element inside a refrigerator. Always throw away any insulin that has been frozen.
How to store unopened (not in use) Levemir:
How to store opened (in use) Levemir:
Do not use the medicine if it looks cloudy, contains particles or has changed colors. Call your pharmacist for a new medicine.
Read all the patient information, medication guides, and the instruction sheets provided to you. Ask your doctor or health personnel if you have any other questions.
Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of Levemir. Keep insulin on hand all the time. Always get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
Seek immediate emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Insulin overdose can cause a life-threatening hypoglycemia. Symptoms include drowsiness, numbness or tingling in the mouth, confusion, blurred vision, trouble speaking, muscle weakness, jerky or clumsy movements, seizure (convulsions), or the loss of consciousness.
Insulin can cause low sugar in your blood. You should avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you.
Avoid medication errors by always checking on the medicine’s label before injecting your insulin.
Avoid taking alcohol. It can cause low blood sugar and it may also interfere with your diabetes treatment.
There are many other medicines that can affect your blood sugar, and some medicines can also increase or decrease the effects of insulin. There are some drugs that can also cause you to have fewer symptoms of hypoglycemia, making it difficult to tell when your blood sugar is low. Tell each one of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any other medicine you start or stop using. This includes all prescriptions and over-the-counter or roadside medicines, herbal products and vitamins.
Having looked at the uses of Levemir flextouch (Levemir flextouch uses), dosage, side effects and a host of others, I call on you to strictly follow your treatment because I can say that levemir flextouch uses your own efforts to give you hope during this trying moment of ill health.
In conclusion, I must say that this article is just a guide and it should at no point in time be used in place of a medical personnel’s advice or prescription.