Skip to main content
HomeDrug Comparisons
Drug bottle and Pill

Compare Levemir vs. Novolog

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Levemir (insulin detemir) and NovoLog (insulin aspart) are both insulins used to manage diabetes, but they have different purposes and characteristics. Levemir is a long-acting insulin that helps control blood sugar levels for up to 24 hours and is typically injected once or twice daily. In contrast, NovoLog is a rapid-acting insulin that starts working within 15 minutes and is usually taken right before meals to manage blood sugar spikes from eating. Levemir is available in vials and FlexPens, while NovoLog comes in vials, prefilled pens, and can also be used in insulin pumps. Levemir is often used in combination with rapid-acting insulins like NovoLog for comprehensive blood sugar management. Both insulins can cause low blood sugar, but NovoLog's rapid action requires careful timing with meals to avoid low blood sugar. Levemir has a lower risk of weight gain compared to some other insulins, while NovoLog can lead to weight gain over time.

  • Levemir (insulin detemir)
    Novolog (insulin aspart)
  • Levemir (insulin detemir)
    Novolog (insulin aspart)

  • Summary of Levemir vs. Novolog

    Summary for Insulin
    Prescription only

    Levemir (insulin detemir) is a long-acting insulin that helps control high blood sugar levels in children and adults. It's injected under the skin, typically once or twice daily. Like all insulins, Levemir (insulin detemir) can raise your risk for low blood sugar, so make sure to keep fast-acting sugars with you in case your blood sugar level drops too low. This medication comes in vials. But it's also available as a Flexpen for people who have trouble drawing up insulin from the vial.

    Summary for Insulin
    Prescription only

    NovoLog (insulin aspart) is a fast-acting insulin for adults and children with diabetes. It lowers your blood sugar levels by moving the sugar into your body so it can be used for energy. NovoLog (insulin aspart) is available as vials and ready-to-use prefilled pens. It's typically injected under the skin at mealtimes, but it can also be given as an infusion into the veins by a healthcare provider for people in the hospital. Side effects include headache and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

  • Indications of Levemir vs. Novolog

    Indications for
    •Type 1 diabetes
    •Type 2 diabetes
    Indications for
    •Type 1 diabetes in adults and children
    •Type 2 diabetes in adults

  • Pros and Cons of Levemir vs. Novolog

    Pros and Const for Insulin
    Pros
    •Lower risk of weight gain compared to some other types of insulin
    •Doses can be adjusted to meet your body's needs
    •Insulin pens available for people who've trouble using insulin vials
    •Provides blood sugar control for up to 24 hours
    Cons
    •Must be injected
    •Might need to inject it twice daily
    •Can cause low blood sugar
    •No generic option available
    Pros and Const for Insulin
    Pros
    •Starts to work within 10 minutes to lower blood sugar levels
    •Dose can be easily adjusted to make treatment tailored to your specific needs
    •Can use if you have liver or kidney problems
    •Available as a prefilled pen for easier and convenient use
    Cons
    •Given multiple times per day (before each meal)
    •Must give as an injection
    •Might be hard for some people to inject properly
    •Risk of low blood sugar and weight gain

  • Common Side Effects of Levemir vs. Novolog

    Common Side Effects for
    •Shakiness, hunger, and other symptoms of low blood sugar (up to 93%, depending on what other blood sugar medications you're taking)
    •Common cold involving the nose, throat, and lungs (up to 27%)
    •Headache (up to 23%)
    •Pain or irritation of the throat (10%)
    •Back pain (8%)
    •Fever, chills, and other flu-like symptoms (up to 8%)
    •Stomach pain (6%)

    Please note: These side effects were reported by people who took Levemir (insulin detemir) for type 1 diabetes. Your risk for side effects might be different if you have type 2 diabetes.

    Common Side Effects for

    Type 1 diabetes:

    •Severely low blood sugar (17%)
    •Headache (12%)
    •Accidental injury (11%)
    •Nausea (7%)
    •Diarrhea (5%)

    Type 2 diabetes:

    •Muscles slow to react (11%)
    •Severely low blood sugar (10%)
    •Fungal nail infection (10%)
    •Impairment of your senses (9%)
    •Urinary tract infection (8%)
    •Sinus infection (5%)
    •Chest pain (5%)
    •Stomach pain (5%)
    •Headache (5%)
    •Skin problems (5%)

  • Warnings of Levemir vs. Novolog

    Common Side Effects for
    •Infections
    •Low blood sugar
    •Severe allergic reactions
    •Low blood potassium levels
    •Swelling from fluids and risk of heart failure
    Common Side Effects for
    •Spread of infections from sharing injection supplies
    •Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
    •Low blood potassium levels
    •Swelling from fluid buildup and risk of heart failure when taken with certain blood sugar medications
    •Dangerously high blood sugar levels or buildup of ketones (for people who use insulin pump)

  • Prices with our coupons for Levemir vs. Novolog

    Learn more about Levemir
    Learn more about Novolog

Compare other Diabetes Type 2 and Diabetes Type 1 drugs

Glucovance vs LevemirLantus vs LevemirLevemir vs ActosLevemir vs ApidraLevemir vs BasaglarLevemir vs HumalogLevemir vs NovologLevemir vs OzempicLevemir vs ToujeoLevemir vs TresibaMetaglip vs LevemirPrecose vs LevemirAdlyxin vs OzempicGlucovance vs LantusHumulin R vs LantusInvokana vs LantusLantus vs ActosLantus vs ApidraLantus vs BasaglarLantus vs HumalogLantus vs NovologLantus vs OzempicLantus vs SemgleeLantus vs ToujeoMetaglip vs LantusPrandin vs LantusPrecose vs LantusTresiba vs BasaglarTresiba vs LantusVictoza vs Lantus
View More

Browse medications

View All

Research prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.