Patient safety alert issued over discontinuation of Levemir

A National Patient Safety Alert has been issued over the discontinuation of Novo Nordisk’s insulin, Levemir in December 2026. Nurse prescribers and other health professionals have been told not to start any new patients on Levemir with immediate effect. They have also been told to switch all patients currently prescribed Levemir to an alternative insulin as soon as possible and no later than 30 November, in line with locally agreed plans and clinical guidance.

Alternative products listed in the guidance are insulin glargine (Abasaglar, Lantus and Semglee at U100 strength, and Toujeo at U300), insulin degludec (Tresiba) and human isophane insulin (Humulin I), although supplies of Abasaglar and Humulin I cannot support increased demand.

• As insulin glargine is available in two strengths, glargine products must be prescribed by brand to minimise the risk of the wrong product being selected.
• When prescribing alternatives, manual dexterity, vision and any need for additional support should be considered.
• Patients and carers should be counselled on the dose to be administered and trained to use their new device, with appropriate equipment and access to training videos provided.
• They should also be advised to monitor blood glucose levels more closely initially, as their insulin dose may need to be adjusted.

(Nursing in Practice, 6th October 2026)

Stocks of Levemir (insulin detemir) FlexPen pre-filled pens and Penfill cartridges are expected to be exhausted by the end of the year.

Nurse prescribers and other health professionals have been told not to start any new patients on Levemir with immediate effect.

They have also been told to switch all patients currently prescribed Levemir to an alternative insulin as soon as possible and no later than 30 November, in line with locally agreed plans and clinical guidance.

Alternative products listed in the guidance are insulin glargine (Abasaglar, Lantus and Semglee at U100 strength, and Toujeo at U300), insulin degludec (Tresiba) and human isophane insulin (Humulin I), although supplies of Abasaglar and Humulin I cannot support increased demand.

As insulin glargine is available in two strengths, glargine products must be prescribed by brand to minimise the risk of the wrong product being selected.

Local teams should check the current supply overview of alternative insulins and aim to diversify prescribing across available options to reduce the risk of causing supply disruption to those products.

When prescribing alternatives, manual dexterity, vision and any need for additional support should be considered.
Patients and carers should be counselled on the dose to be administered and trained to use their new device, with appropriate equipment and access to training videos provided.

They should also be advised to monitor blood glucose levels more closely initially, as their insulin dose may need to be adjusted.

Prescribers should seek advice from specialist diabetes teams where required.