| Diabetes Mellitus
Humulin R U-500 vs Levemir
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for diabetes mellitus.Deep comparison between: Humulin 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 Humulin based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Levemir but not Humulin, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Humulin
Levemir
At A Glance
SC injection
2-3 times daily
Human insulin
SC injection
Once or twice daily
Long-acting basal insulin analog
Indications
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Diabetes Mellitus
Dosing
Diabetes Mellitus SC injection 2-3 times daily approximately 30 minutes before meals; individualize dose based on metabolic needs, blood glucose monitoring results, and glycemic control goal; do not mix with other insulins or administer IV.
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
- Active episodes of hypoglycemia
- Hypersensitivity to HUMULIN R U-500 or any of its excipients
- Episodes of hypoglycemia
- Hypersensitivity to insulin detemir or any excipient in LEVEMIR, including reactions such as anaphylaxis
Adverse Reactions
Most common Hypoglycemia
Serious Severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, angioedema, bronchospasm, hypotension, shock; hypokalemia
Postmarketing Lipodystrophy, localized cutaneous amyloidosis, injection site reactions, weight gain, peripheral edema, anti-insulin antibodies
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
Human insulin; lowers blood glucose by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and fat and inhibiting hepatic glucose production, and also inhibits lipolysis and proteolysis while enhancing 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.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Humulin
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (1/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
Levemir
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (7/12) · Step Therapy (1/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Humulin
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (1/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (6/8)
Levemir
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Humulin
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · 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
No savings programs available for Humulin.
No savings programs available for Levemir.
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HumulinView full Humulin profile
LevemirView full Levemir profile
Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.