Long-acting Insulin Analogue

Insulin Detemir

Brand names: Levemir

Insulin detemir is a long-acting basal insulin analogue used once or twice daily to provide background insulin cover in type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Dosing — being independently re-sourced

ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Clinical monograph

How it works

Acylation with a fatty-acid side chain promotes albumin binding and self-association, prolonging and smoothing its glucose-lowering action.

Prescribing in practice

Hypoglycaemia is the principal risk, and as a high-alert medicine the dose should be prescribed in units in words with the product specified.
Some patients require twice-daily administration to achieve full basal cover.
Adjust the regimen with changes in diet, activity or intercurrent illness and review concurrent therapy in current prescribing references.

Monitoring

Monitor fasting and pre-meal blood glucose and HbA1c to guide titration and detect hypoglycaemia.

Counselling the patient

Take it at the same time(s) each day as directed.
Recognise and treat hypoglycaemia and carry fast-acting carbohydrate.
Rotate injection sites and do not share pens or needles.

Evidence & guidelines

Long-acting basal analogues reduce hypoglycaemia compared with NPH insulin and are supported within NICE diabetes guidance.

Reference: NICE NG17 (Type 1 DM); NICE NG28 (Type 2 DM); MHRA Insulin Safety Alert; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Calculators

Pathways