-other medicines for diabetes

Many medications may cause changes in blood sugar, these include:

-alcohol containing beverages
-antiviral medicines for HIV or AIDS
-aspirin and aspirin-like drugs
-certain medicines for blood pressure, heart disease, irregular heart beat
-chromium
-diuretics
-female hormones, such as estrogens or progestins, birth control pills
-fenofibrate
-gemfibrozil
-isoniazid
-lanreotide
-male hormones or anabolic steroids
-MAOIs like Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
-medicines for weight loss
-medicines for allergies, asthma, cold, or cough
-medicines for depression, anxiety, or psychotic disturbances
-niacin
-nicotine
-NSAIDs, medicines for pain and inflammation, like ibuprofen or naproxen
-octreotide
-pasireotide
-pentamidine
-phenytoin
-probenecid
-quinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin
-some herbal dietary supplements
-steroid medicines such as prednisone or cortisone
-sulfamethoxazole; trimethoprim
-thyroid hormones

Some medications can hide the warning symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). You may need to monitor your blood sugar more closely if you are taking one of these medications. These include:

-beta-blockers, often used for high blood pressure or heart problems (examples include atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol)
-clonidine
-guanethidine
-reserpine

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

-episodes of low blood sugar
-eye disease, vision problems
-kidney disease
-liver disease
-an unusual or allergic reaction to insulin, metacresol, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-pregnant or trying to get pregnant
-breast-feeding

Visit your health care professional or doctor for regular checks on your progress.

A test called the HbA1C (A1C) will be monitored. This is a simple blood test. It measures your blood sugar control over the last 2 to 3 months. You will receive this test every 3 to 6 months.

Learn how to check your blood sugar. Learn the symptoms of low and high blood sugar and how to manage them.

Always carry a quick-source of sugar with you in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar. Examples include hard sugar candy or glucose tablets. Make sure others know that you can choke if you eat or drink when you develop serious symptoms of low blood sugar, such as seizures or unconsciousness. They must get medical help at once.

Tell your doctor or health care professional if you have high blood sugar. You might need to change the dose of your medicine. If you are sick or exercising more than usual, you might need to change the dose of your medicine.

Do not skip meals. Ask your doctor or health care professional if you should avoid alcohol. Many nonprescription cough and cold products contain sugar or alcohol. These can affect blood sugar.

Make sure that you have the right kind of syringe for the type of insulin you use. Try not to change the brand and type of insulin or syringe unless your health care professional or doctor tells you to. Switching insulin brand or type can cause dangerously high or low blood sugar. Always keep an extra supply of insulin, syringes, and needles on hand. Use a syringe one time only. Throw away syringe and needle in a closed container to prevent accidental needle sticks.

Insulin pens and cartridges should never be shared. Even if the needle is changed, sharing may result in passing of viruses like hepatitis or HIV.

Each time you get a new box of pen needles, check to see if they are the same type as the ones you were trained to use. If not, ask your health care professional to show you how to use this new type properly.

Wear a medical ID bracelet or chain, and carry a card that describes your disease and details of your medicine and dosage times.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Unopened Vials:
Levemir vials: Store in a refrigerator between 2 and 8 degrees C (36 and 46 degrees F) or at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Do not freeze or use if the insulin has been frozen. Protect from light and excessive heat. If stored at room temperature, the vial must be discarded after 42 days. Throw away any unopened and unused medicine that has been stored in the refrigerator after the expiration date.

Unopened Pens:
Levemir Flextouch pens: Store in a refrigerator between 2 and 8 degrees C (36 and 46 degrees F) or at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Do not freeze or use if the insulin has been frozen. Protect from light and excessive heat. If stored at room temperature, the pen must be discarded after 42 days. Throw away any unopened and unused medicine that has been stored in the refrigerator after the expiration date.

Vials that you are using:
Levemir vials: Store in the refrigerator or at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Do not freeze. Keep away from heat and light. Throw the opened vial away after 42 days.

Pens that you are using:
Levemir Flextouch pens: Store at room temperature, below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Do not store in the refrigerator once opened. Do not refrigerate or freeze. Keep away from heat and light. Throw the pen away after 42 days, even if it still has insulin left in it.