Article in Diabetes Care Journal Sheds Light on Levemir Dosing

Many different factors play into the choice of a basal insulin, and the number of required injections per day can make a big difference. A new study released in the January 2009 Diabetes Care shows that, at least among adult patients with type 1 diabetes, taking a single dose of Levemir at bedtime may be as effective as taking two doses each day. According to the authors, this makes sense, because the pharmacological profile of Levemir (the way it is absorbed by your body) suggests that it should last for almost 24 hours. In the study, patients who injected Levemir twice a day for four months had no statistically significant improvements in A1c compared to patients who injected only once a day. However, patients who injected twice a day had a flatter blood sugar profile throughout the day, with lower levels after lunch and dinner compared with the once-daily group. As always, talk to your doctor before making any changes to your treatment regimen. If you point your diabetes team to this study, you can discuss your options together.