Discontinuation of Levemir® (insulin detemir)

Levemir® insulin, in both its Penfill® and Flexpen® presentations, is to be discontinued, with an anticipated supply end date of December 2026.

A Medicine Supply Notification (MSN/2025/036U) has been issued regarding the discontinuation.

In response to this, the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists and the Primary Care Diabetes & Obesity Society have published joint guidance from a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, which aims to support clinicians in appropriately selecting and safely prescribing alternative insulin therapy.

Due to the large number of people living with diabetes who are prescribed Levemir, a planned and proactive approach is essential to avoid overwhelming services and depleting supplies of alternative insulins. With a planned approach, this can be incorporated in regular reviews where possible.

The guidance covers how to select an appropriate alternative insulin based on person characteristics and current insulin regimen, how to safely prescribe this and how to optimise doses to ensure desired outcomes.

Of particular relevance is a dedicated section which provides practical working examples of how to safely calculate doses of alternative insulins, which will be of immense value in care delivery.

To access the guidance, click here.