Who should not take Levemir®?

Do not take Levemir® if:

• you are having an episode of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
• you have an allergy to Levemir® or any of the ingredients in Levemir®.

Before taking Levemir®, tell your health care provider about all your medical conditions including, if you:

• take any other medicines, especially medicines commonly called TZDs (thiazolidinediones)
• are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

How should I take Levemir®?

• Read the Instructions for Use and take exactly as directed.
• Know the type and strength of your insulin. Do not change your insulin type unless your health care provider tells you to.
• Check your blood sugar levels. Ask your health care provider what your blood sugar levels should be and when you should check your blood sugar levels.
• Do not reuse or share your needles or syringes with other people. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.
• Do not inject Levemir® into a vein or muscle.
• Change (rotate) your injection sites within the area you choose with each injection to reduce your risk of getting lipodystrophy (pits in skin or thickened skin) and localized cutaneous amyloidosis (skin with lumps) at the injection sites.
  • Do not use the exact same spot for each injection.
  • Do not inject where the skin has pits, is thickened, or has lumps.
  • Do not inject where the skin is tender, bruised, scaly or hard, or into scars or damaged skin.

What should I avoid while taking Levemir®?

• Do not drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how it affects you.
• Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that contain alcohol.

How should I take Levemir®?

• Read the Instructions for Use and take exactly as directed.
• Know the type and strength of your insulin. Do not change your insulin type unless your health care provider tells you to.
• Check your blood sugar levels. Ask your health care provider what your blood sugar levels should be and when you should check your blood sugar levels.
• Do not reuse or share your needles or syringes with other people. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.
• Do not inject Levemir® into a vein or muscle.
• Change (rotate) your injection sites within the area you choose with each injection to reduce your risk of getting lipodystrophy (pits in skin or thickened skin) and localized cutaneous amyloidosis (skin with lumps) at the injection sites.
  • Do not use the exact same spot for each injection.
  • Do not inject where the skin has pits, is thickened, or has lumps.
  • Do not inject where the skin is tender, bruised, scaly or hard, or into scars or damaged skin.

What should I avoid while taking Levemir®?

• Do not drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how it affects you.
• Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that contain alcohol.

What are the possible side effects of Levemir®?

• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Low blood sugar can be a serious, but common side effect of Levemir®.
• Severe allergic reaction
• Low potassium in your blood (hypokalemia)
• Heart failure.

Other common side effects include:

• injection site reactions, skin thickening or pits at the injection site (lipodystrophy), weight gain, swelling of your hands and feet, rash, and itching.