Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

When you start using this medicine, it is very important that you check your blood sugar often, especially before and after meals and at bedtime. This will help lower the chance of having very low blood sugar.

A nurse or other trained health professional may give you this medicine. You may also be taught how to give your medicine at home. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin.

Always double-check both the concentration (strength) of your insulin and your dose. Concentration and dose are not the same. The dose is how many units of insulin you will use. The concentration tells how many units of insulin are in each milliliter (mL), such as 100 units/mL (U-100), but this does not mean you will use 100 units at a time.

This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet and patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Each package of insulin detemir contains a patient information sheet. Read this sheet carefully before beginning treatment and each time you refill for any new information, and make sure you understand:

  • How to prepare the medicine.
  • How to inject the medicine.
  • How to dispose of syringes, needles, and injection devices.

This medicine may be given one or two times a day. It may be taken with the evening meal or at bedtime for once-a-day dosing, or taken 12 hours after the morning dose for twice-a-day dosing.

This medicine is given as a shot under the skin of your stomach, upper arm, or thighs. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections..

Follow carefully special instructions your doctor gave you. This is the most important part of controlling your condition, and is necessary if the medicine is to work properly. Also, exercise regularly and test for sugar in your blood or urine as directed.

Check the liquid in the pen or vial. It should look clear and colorless. Do not use this medicine if it is cloudy or thickened. Do not mix this insulin with any other insulin.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For injection dosage form:
    • For type 1 diabetes:
      • Adults and children 2 years of age and older—Dose is based on your blood sugar and must be determined by your doctor.
      • Children younger than 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For type 2 diabetes:
      • Adults—Dose is based on your blood sugar and must be determined by your doctor.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Unopened vials or prefilled pens: Store in the refrigerator. You may store the medicine at room temperature for 42 days. Protect from light. Do not freeze.

Opened vials: Store in the refrigerator or at room temperature in a cool place, away from sunlight and heat. Use within 42 days.

Opened prefilled pens: Store at room temperature, away from direct heat and light. Do not refrigerate. Throw away any opened pen after 42 days.

Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.