| Diabetes Mellitus
Afrezza - (Insulin Human) Inhalation Powder vs Levemir
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for diabetes mellitus.Deep comparison between: Afrezza vs Levemir with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsLevemir has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Afrezza based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Levemir but not Afrezza, including UnitedHealthcare
Sign up to reveal the full AI analysis
Category
Afrezza
Levemir
At A Glance
Oral inhalation
At each meal
Rapid-acting insulin
SC injection
Once or twice daily
Long-acting basal insulin analog
Indications
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Diabetes Mellitus
Dosing
Diabetes Mellitus Insulin-naive patients: 4 units inhaled at the beginning of each meal; patients switching from subcutaneous mealtime insulin convert per table (up to 3 units -> 4 units, 4-5 units -> 8 units, 6-7 units -> 12 units, >=8 units -> 16 units); adjust dose based on metabolic needs, blood glucose monitoring, and glycemic control goal.
Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1) Approximately one-third to one-half of the total daily insulin dose SC once or twice daily in combination with rapid-acting or short-acting insulin; initial total daily dose 0.2-0.4 units/kg in insulin-naive patients.
Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2) 10 units (or 0.1-0.2 units/kg) SC once daily in the evening or divided into a twice-daily regimen in patients inadequately controlled on oral antidiabetic medications or a GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Contraindications
- Episodes of hypoglycemia
- Chronic lung disease such as asthma or COPD due to risk of acute bronchospasm
- Previous severe hypersensitivity reaction to any regular human insulin product or any inactive ingredient in AFREZZA
- Episodes of hypoglycemia
- Hypersensitivity to insulin detemir or any excipient in LEVEMIR, including reactions such as anaphylaxis
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=2%) Cough, throat pain or irritation, headache, diarrhea, productive cough, fatigue, nausea
Serious Acute bronchospasm, hypoglycemia, decline in pulmonary function, lung cancer, diabetic ketoacidosis, hypersensitivity reactions
Postmarketing Bronchospasm
Most common (>=5%) Upper respiratory tract infection, headache, pharyngitis, influenza-like illness, abdominal pain, hypoglycemia
Serious Severe hypoglycemia, anaphylaxis, generalized skin reactions, angioedema, bronchospasm, hypotension, shock, lipodystrophy, peripheral edema, hypokalemia
Postmarketing Medication errors with accidental administration of other insulins instead of LEVEMIR, localized cutaneous amyloidosis, hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia associated with injection into amyloidosis sites
Pharmacology
Insulin lowers blood glucose in adult patients with diabetes mellitus by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake by skeletal muscle and fat and by inhibiting hepatic glucose production; it also inhibits lipolysis in adipocytes, inhibits proteolysis, and enhances protein synthesis.
Long-acting basal human insulin analog that regulates glucose metabolism by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and fat and inhibiting hepatic glucose production; prolonged duration of action is mediated by self-association of drug molecules at the injection site and albumin binding in the bloodstream.
Enter your patient's insuranceCheck specific coverage details for your patient.
Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Afrezza
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (10/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
Levemir
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (7/12) · Step Therapy (1/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Afrezza
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (6/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Levemir
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Afrezza
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (1/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Levemir
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (1/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
$99/momo
Afrezza Patient Direct ProgramCommercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
No savings programs available for Levemir.
Compare Other Drugs
Let us handle your prior authsJust enter your patient's info and we'll:
- Verify eligibility with the payer.
- Pull the right PA forms directly from the payer.
- Submit, track & send live updates to your dashboard.
Free to start · HIPAA compliant
Next Steps for Your Patient
AfrezzaView full Afrezza profile
LevemirView full Levemir profile
Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.