Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml is long-acting insulin analogue which belongs to the category of medicines called 'anti-diabetic' primarily used for the management and treatment of  type 1 and type 2 diabetes, especially in persons whose sugar levels are too high and cannot be only controlled by dieting and exercising. It is used to improve the sugar levels in blood in persons dealing with diabetes mellitus in both children (above 2 years of age) and adults. Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin to control the level of blood sugar. It is a condition in which blood glucose levels are above average. Insulin is the hormone that controls sugar levels in your blood. 

Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml contains Insulin Detemir as its active ingredient. It is a recombinant human insulin analogue that is equipotent to regular human insulin. It works by replacing the natural insulin produced by the body and helps in moving sugar from the blood to different body tissues where it is used as energy. Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml has a more rapid onset of action and a long duration of action up to 24 hours of basal insulin coverage. Treatment with Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml helps to prevent complications from your diabetes.

Your doctor will advise you on how to use the Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml. It should be administered at least 0-15 minutes before or soon after meals. The common side effects of Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml are hypokalaemia (low potassium levels), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels), local injection site reactions like lipodystrophy (fat deposition under the skin), rash, and pruritus (itch skin). Most of these side effects of Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.

Do not skip any doses or stop taking Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml suddenly without consulting your doctor. Consult your doctor before taking Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml should not be given to children below 10 years. Avoid alcohol consumption while taking Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml as it might increase side-effects. Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml may cause hypoglycaemia, so drive only if you are alert. Inform your doctor about all the medications you are taking and your health condition to rule out any unpleasant side effects.

Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml belongs to the category of the anti-diabetic drug, indicated in the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes . This medicine is primarily prescribed to people whose blood sugar levels are high and is not even controlled by diet and exercise alone. Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml is a fast-acting form of insulin that helps lower blood sugar levels after the intake of food. It helps in improving the glycaemic control, which in turn decreases the risk of progression of complications of diabetes like damage of retina (retinopathy), damage of kidney (nephropathy), damage of nerve cells (neuropathy), delayed wound healing, diabetic foot ulcer, and others.

• Local injection site reactions (such as reddening, unusually intense pain on injection, itching, hives, swelling, or inflammation)
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels)
• Hypokalaemia (low potassium levels)
• Lipodystrophy (fat deposition under the skin)
• Rash
• Pruritus (itchy skin)

Do not take or stop this medicine, if the doctor did not advise you to do so. Brief your medical history to doctor if you have any heart, kidney or liver diseases, low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), and low potassium levels in the blood (hypokalaemia) before starting Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml. Do not share an injection pen, cartridge, or syringe with another person, even if the needle is changed. Do not inject Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml daily at the same injection site since it may cause skin changes, such as lumps under the skin. Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience blurred vision, dizziness or drowsiness due to extremely low or high blood sugar. It is advised to avoid your alcohol intake while using Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml to avoid low blood sugar levels further. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before starting this medication. Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml can be given safely to children provided, it is prescribed by a child specialist.

Drug-Drug Interaction: Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml may have an interaction with drugs that may increase the risk of antiarrhythmic (disopyramide), hemorheological agents (pentoxifylline), antidiabetic medicinal products (pramlintide, glucagon), beta-blockers (metoprolol), diuretics (furosemide ), bleeding disorder drugs (octreotide), antipsychotic (propoxyphene, phenothiazines), estrogens, progestins (e.g. in oral contraceptives), protease inhibitors and atypical antipsychotic medicinal products (olanzapine and clozapine)., thyroid hormones (levothyroxine), anti-asthmatics (albuterol, epinephrine, terbutaline), antidepressant medications (fluoxetine, lithium), lipid-lowering pills (reserpine, niacin, clonidine, fenofibrate, guanethidine), pain killers (aspirin) and antibiotics (isoniazid).

Drug-Food Interaction: Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml may interact with an ayurvedic, homoeopathy, Unani, herbal supplements, or OTC items. Tell your doctor if you are using these products. Try to avoid intake of alcoholic beverages with Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml as it may increase or decrease your blood sugar level.

Drug-Disease Interaction: Levimir Flexipen 100 I.U 3Ml should not be given to patients with kidney disease, liver disease, low blood sugar/glucose level (hypoglycaemia), and low potassium level (hypokalaemia).
 

• ASPIRIN
• BUDESONIDE+FORMOTEROL
• METOPROLOL
• FUROSEMIDE

• Exercise may lower your body’s need for insulin during and for some time after the physical activity.
• Exercise may also speed up the effect of an insulin dose, especially if the exercise involves the area of the injection site (for example, the leg should not be used for injection just before running).
• Discuss with your doctor how you should adjust your insulin regimen to accommodate exercise. 
• Avoid eating sugar food and prefer food cooked food low in calories.
• When travelling across more than 2 time zones, you should talk to your doctor concerning adjustments in your insulin schedule.

• Your doctor may tell you to keep a check on your potassium levels as prolonged administration causes hypokalemia (low potassium levels). 
• Your doctor may advise regular monitoring of blood sugars.

Type 1 diabetes:  It is a condition in which your immune system destroys insulin-making cells in the pancreas. These are called beta cells and the pancreas produces little or no insulin. The condition is usually diagnosed in children and young people, so it used to be called juvenile diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes: It is a chronic or life-long condition in which cells of the body fail to respond to insulin, and in later stages, the body even fails to produce enough amount of insulin. It comprises around 90% of total diabetes cases. This condition makes the body rely on different energy sources in muscles, tissues, and organs. This disease develops gradually, and the early symptoms include constant hunger, lack of energy, fatigue, weight loss, excessive thirst, frequent urination, dry mouth, itchy skin, and blurry vision. Persons who are middle-aged or older are most likely to have type 2 diabetes, so it is also called adult-onset diabetes.

The risks of uncontrolled diabetes include damaged retina of eyes or blindness, loss of limbs, nerve problems, kidney problems, sexual dysfunction, and increase the possibility of heart attack or stroke.