Safety of Insulin

Before the discovery of insulin in 1921, many people with type 1 diabetes died within a few years of diagnosis. The discovery of insulin was a major breakthrough in diabetes treatment.

Novo Nordisk, the maker of Levemir® FlexPen®, was founded in 1922 by a scientist whose wife had diabetes, and who dedicated himself to finding a cure. Soon afterward, insulin began making a dramatic difference in the lives of millions of people around the world. Today, there are many people who have been treating their diabetes with insulin for decades.

Side effects of insulin therapy

Common side effects of insulin therapy include low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, and weight gain.

Insulin and weight gain

When you start taking insulin, you may notice that you gain weight. Weight gain is a common side effect for people who take insulin. When you use insulin therapy to control your blood sugar level, more sugar gets into your cells and less is wasted in your urine. Sugar that isn’t used by your cells turns into fat in your body.