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What Is Insulin Detemir?

Insulin detemir is a long-acting human insulin analog formerly marketed in the United States as Levemir. FDA lists the Levemir vial and prefilled pen presentations as discontinued. Its final U.S. labeling covered adults and children with diabetes mellitus.

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What Is Insulin Detemir?

Insulin detemir is a long-acting human insulin analog formerly marketed in the United States as Levemir. FDA lists the Levemir vial and prefilled pen presentations as discontinued. Its final U.S. labeling covered adults and children with diabetes mellitus.

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How Does Insulin Detemir Lower Blood Glucose?

Insulin detemir lowers blood glucose by increasing glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and fat and decreasing glucose production in the liver. It also reduces lipolysis and proteolysis and increases protein synthesis. Its prolonged action supported basal insulin treatment.

Who Was Treated With Insulin Detemir?

Levemir was indicated to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus. In type 1 diabetes, it was used with rapid-acting or short-acting insulin. It was not recommended for treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.

How Was Insulin Detemir Dosed?

Levemir was injected subcutaneously once daily or in divided doses twice daily. Once-daily treatment was given with the evening meal or at bedtime. For insulin-naive type 2 diabetes, the labeled starting dose was 10 units or 0.1 to 0.2 units per kg once daily in the evening or divided into two daily doses.

What Serious Risks Were Linked to Insulin Detemir?

Major risks included hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, severe hypersensitivity, medication errors, lipodystrophy, localized cutaneous amyloidosis, and fluid retention or heart failure with thiazolidinediones. Levemir was administered only by subcutaneous injection and was not used intravenously or in an insulin pump.

Frequently Asked Questions About Insulin Detemir

What type of insulin was insulin detemir?

Insulin detemir was a long-acting human insulin analog used as basal insulin.

Is Levemir still listed as an active U.S. product?

No. FDA lists the Levemir vial and prefilled pen presentations as discontinued.

What was the type 2 diabetes starting dose for insulin-naive patients?

The labeled starting dose was 10 units or 0.1 to 0.2 units per kg once daily in the evening or divided into two daily doses.

Was insulin detemir used in insulin pumps?

No. Levemir labeling directed against use in insulin pumps.

References

Diabetes Treatments. https://www.novonordisk-us.com/products/diabetes.html. Date Accessed October 5, 2026.

Insulin Detemir (rDNA Origin) Injection: MedlinePlus Drug Information. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a606012.html. Date Accessed October 5, 2026.

Insulin Detemir: A Review of Its Use in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23110609/. Date Accessed October 5, 2026.

LEVEMIR (Insulin Detemir) Prescribing Information. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=d38d65c1-25bf-401d-9c7e-a2c3222da8af. Date Accessed October 5, 2026.

Purple Book Product Details for Levemir. https://purplebooksearch.fda.gov/index.cfm?blaNo=021536&event=productdetails. Date Accessed October 5, 2026.