Nurses and other health professionals are being reminded that the diabetes drug Levemir is being withdrawn this year. <\/p>\n
NHS England has issued a reminder to health professionals that stocks are expected to be depleted by the end of December 2026.\n<\/p>\n
Nurse prescribers and other prescribing health professionals have been asked not to start any new patients on Levemir and for any patients currently prescribed it to be switched to an alternative insulin.\n<\/p>\n
Writing in its latest Primary Care Bulletin, NHS England suggested that, if possible, switches should be carried out as part of a planned review. <\/p>\n
Health professionals have been urged to \u2018consider the supply position of alternative insulins to avoid further disruptions\u2019.\n<\/p>\n
For example, NHS England said: \u2018Supplies of Humulin I and Abasaglar cannot support a significant increase in demand and should not be routinely\u00a0used unless\u00a0there is a clear clinical need.\u2019\n<\/p>\n
It added: \u2018The advice is to\u00a0begin\u00a0identifying\u00a0and switching\u00a0affected patients to appropriate alternatives in line with\u00a0ABCD\/PCDO national guidance<\/a>,\u00a0taking into account\u00a0availability information in the\u00a0Medicines Supply Notice<\/a>.\u2019\n<\/p>\n