Levemir Patient Counseling Information

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE FOR THE PATIENT: Do Not Use Levemir: If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to insulin detemir or any of the other ingredients in Levemir.
If you suspect hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) is starting; in insulin infusion pumps; if FlexPen is dropped, damaged or crushed; if it has not been stored correctly or if it has been frozen; if the insulin does not appear water clear and colourless; after the expiry date which is stated on the FlexPen label and carton after 'Expiry'.
Before Using Levemir: Check the label to make sure it is the right type of insulin; always use a new needle for each injection to prevent contamination; needles and Levemir FlexPen must not be shared.
Method of administration: Levemir is for injection under the skin (subcutaneously). Never inject your insulin directly into a vein (intravenously) or muscle (intramuscularly). With each injection, change the injection site within the particular area of skin that you use. This may reduce the risk of developing lumps or skin pitting. The best places to give yourself an injection are: The front of your thighs, the front of your waist (abdomen), or the upper arm. You should always measure blood sugar regularly.
How to handle Levemir FlexPen: Read and follow the included Levemir FlexPen instructions for use carefully.
Instructions on how to use LEVEMIR solution for injection in a FlexPen: Read the following instructions carefully before using your Levemir FlexPen. If you do not follow the instructions carefully, you may get too little or too much insulin, which can lead to too high or too low blood sugar level.
Your FlexPen is a pre-filled dial-a-dose insulin pen. You can select doses from 1 to 60 units in increments of 1 unit. FlexPen is designed to be used with NovoFine or NovoTwist disposable needles up to a length of 8 mm. As a precautionary measure, always carry a spare insulin delivery device in case your FlexPen in use is lost or damaged.
Caring for your pen: Your FlexPen must be handled with care.
If it is dropped, damaged or crushed, there is a risk of insulin leakage. This may cause inaccurate dosing, which can lead to too high or too low blood sugar level.
You can clean the exterior of your FlexPen by wiping it with a medicinal swab. Do not soak, wash or lubricate it as it may damage the pen.
Do not refill the FlexPen.
Preparing your Levemir FlexPen: Check the name and coloured label of your pen to make sure that the it contains the correct type of insulin. This is especially important if you take more than one type of insulin. If you take the wrong type of insulin, your blood sugar level may get too high or too low.
A. Pull off the pen cap.
B. Remove the paper tab from a new disposable needle. Screw the needle straight and tightly onto your FlexPen.
C. Pull off the big outer needle cap and keep it for later.
D. Pull off the inner needle cap and dispose of it. Never try to put the inner needle cap back on the needle. You may stick yourself with the needle.
Always use a new needle for each injection. This reduces the risk of contamination, infection, leakage of insulin, blocked needles and inaccurate dosing.
Be careful not to bend or damage the needle before use.
Checking the Insulin Flow: Prior to each injection, small amounts of air may collect in the cartridge during normal use. To avoid injection of air and ensure proper dosing: E. Turn the dose selector to select 2 units.
F. Hold your FlexPen with the needle pointing upwards and tap the cartridge gently with the finger a few times to make any air bubbles collect at the top of the cartridge.
G. Keeping the needle upwards, press the push-button all the way in. The dose selector returns to 0.
A drop of insulin should appear at the needle tip. If not, change the needle and repeat the procedure no more than 6 times.
If a drop of insulin still does not appear, the pen is defective, and you must use a new one.
Always make sure that a drop appears at the needle tip before you inject. This makes sure that the insulin flows. If no drop appears, you will not inject any insulin, even though the dose selector may move. This may indicate a blocked or damaged needle.
Always check the flow before you inject. If you do not check the flow, you may get too little insulin or no insulin at all. This may lead to too high blood sugar level.
Selecting your dose: Check that the dose selector is set at 0.
H. Turn the dose selector to select the number of units you need to inject.
The dose can be corrected either up or down by turning the dose selector in either direction until the correct dose lines up with the pointer. When turning the dose selector, be careful not to push the push-button as insulin will come out.
You cannot select a dose larger than the number of units left in the cartridge.
Always use the dose selector and the pointer to see how many units you have selected before injecting the insulin.
Do not count the pen clicks. If you select and inject the wrong dose, your blood sugar level may get too high or too low. Do not use the residual scale, it only shows approximately how much insulin is left in your pen.
Making the Injection: Insert the needle into your skin. Use the injection technique shown by your doctor or nurse.
I. Inject the dose by pressing the push-button all the way in until 0 lines up with the pointer.
Be careful only to push the push-button when injecting.
Turning the dose selector will not inject insulin.
J. Keep the push-button fully depressed and let the needle remain under the skin for at least 6 seconds. This will make sure that the patient gets the full dose. Withdraw the needle from the skin then release the pressure on the push-button.
Always make sure that the dose selector returns to 0 after the injection. If the dose selector stops before it returns to 0, the full dose has not been delivered, which may result in too high blood sugar level.
K. Lead the needle into the big outer needle cap without touching it. When the needle is covered, carefully push the big outer needle cap completely on and then unscrew the needle.
Dispose of it carefully and put the pen cap back on your FlexPen.
Always remove the needle after each injection and store your FlexPen without the needle attached. This reduces the risk of contamination, infection, leakage of insulin, blocked needles and inaccurate dosing.
Further important information: Caregivers must be very careful when handling used needles - to reduce the risk of needle sticks and cross-infection.
Dispose of your used FlexPen carefully without the needle attached.
Never share your pen or your needles with other people. It might lead to cross-infection.
Never share your pen with other people. Your medicine might be harmful to their health.
Always keep your pen and needles out of sight and reach of others, especially children.