General practice teams are reminded that Levemir® (insulin detemir) is being discontinued, with existing stock expected to be exhausted by the end of December 2026.
If you have not already done so, now is a good opportunity to begin identifying patients who are still prescribed Levemir and ensure they have a documented plan to transition to a suitable alternative insulin.
A practical first step would be to:
- Run a search for patients who have been issued a Levemir prescription in the last month.
- Check whether each patient has a documented transition plan in place.
- Arrange reviews for any patients who have not yet been switched, following the ABCD/PCDO national guidance.
When selecting an alternative insulin, it is important to be mindful of current supply issues. Humulin I and Abasaglar are not recommended as routine alternatives unless there is a clear clinical indication, as current supplies are unable to support a significant increase in demand.
Planning switches now will help practices avoid a last-minute rush as stocks reduce later in the year, while ensuring patients continue to receive safe and uninterrupted insulin therapy.
EPC Top Tip: Add a search for recent Levemir prescriptions to your clinical safety or prescribing review this month. Confirm that every affected patient has a clear, documented transition plan before supplies become limited.