What is Basaglar?
Basaglar is a brand of insulin glargine, a long-acting, basal insulin that is often the first insulin used for patients who are new to the medication. It is administered by injection and is suitable for patients with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. It is distributed by Eli Lilly and Company, and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc.
What is Levemir?
Levemir is a brand of insulin detemir, another type of long-acting, basal insulin. It works for up to 24 hours and is administered by injection. It helps lower A1C in children with Type 1 diabetes and adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. It is distributed by Novo Nordisk A/S.
Difference between Basaglar and Levemir
Basaglar and Levemir are both prescription-only insulin medications that help patients with diabetes control blood sugar levels. However, there are some differences between Basaglar and Levemir. The first difference is in how the drugs are administered. Basaglar comes in a prefilled pen called a KwikPen, while Levemir comes in two forms: a prefilled pen and a vial.
Another difference between Basaglar and Levemir is how often they are taken. Basaglar is taken once daily at the same time, whether that’s in the morning or evening. Levemir is taken either once or twice a day, depending on a doctor’s recommendation. Levemir is typically taken with an evening meal or before bedtime.
Basaglar and Levemir both contain 100 U/mL of their respective active ingredients, and though the starting dosage is similar, they are not identical. It is recommended that the starting dose for Basaglar is 0.2 units/kg, or up to 10 units. The recommended starting dose for Levemir is 0.1 to 0.2 units/kg, or 10 units.
