Levemir is a type of long acting insulin.
Levemir (insulin detemir) is a long-acting insulin that works for up to 24 hours to lower your blood sugar.
Levemir generally reaches a peak concentration in your blood six to eight hours after you take it.
The concentration of Levemir in your blood can remain close to peak levels for up to 24 hours.
On the other hand, Lantus has no clear peak.
It absorbs into your body more slowly and steadily than Levemir.
When Levemir is taken once daily, inject the insulin with the evening meal or at bedtime.
When taken twice daily, the evening dose should be taken with the evening meal, at bedtime, or 12 hours following the morning dose.
Some insulins, like glargine (Lantus®) and detemer (Levemir®), cannot be mixed.
Other insulins (NovoLog 70/30®, Humalog 75/25®) are already a combination of two types of insulin and should not be mixed.
Some side effects of Levemir include.
Injection site reactions (e.g., pain, redness, irritation).
Swelling of the hands/feet.
Thickening of the skin where you inject Levemir.
Weight gain.
Headache.
Back pain.
Stomach pain.
Flu symptoms.