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Switching from Levemir to Tresiba: My Honest Type 1 Diabetes Experience

By Mike – We Are T1D

 

Switching from Levemir to Tresiba: My Honest Type 1 Diabetes Experience

By Mike – We Are T1D

So here’s the thing. This isn’t a usual We Are T1D episode. In fact, not even Jack knew I was going to record this one solo. It’s short, it’s personal, and honestly, it felt more like a diary entry than a podcast. But I knew if I was going through it, then someone else in the Type 1 diabetes community probably was too. And that’s why I hit record.

I wanted to share my honest experience of switching from Levemir to Tresiba — what it was like, what I noticed, what I struggled with, and the little wins that came with it.

Why I Switched from Levemir to Tresiba

I’d been on Levemir for so many years I actually can’t remember how long. It was just my insulin, the one that fitted into my routine. I was prescribed Levemir and Novorapid after moving on from Human Mixtard, and for me, Levemir was brilliant.

I loved how flexible it was. I had a morning dose and an evening dose, which gave me options. If I was having a busy day, I could lower it. If I wanted to avoid night-time lows, I could tweak it. It felt like I had control.

So why did I switch? Well, the big reason is that Levemir is being discontinued. Novo Nordisk, the company that makes it, announced they’re phasing it out because newer basal insulins (like Tresiba) are now preferred. Part of it is manufacturing efficiency, part of it is moving people onto insulins that are designed to last longer and be more stable. Basically, the day was coming when I’d go to pick up a prescription and there would be none left.

I didn’t want to wait for that moment. So I got ahead of the game and made the switch.

First Feelings: Nerves and Delays

I’ll be real with you: I was nervous. Like, properly nervous. It actually took me two weeks after being prescribed Tresiba to inject it for the first time.

Why? Because I’d built trust with Levemir. I knew how it worked, how it felt in my body. Switching to something new felt like a risk. What if I went sky-high? What if I went low in the night? What if it just didn’t suit me?

When I did finally inject, I started on 25 units. Straight away, I noticed I was running higher — around 10 mmol/L most of the time. I’d worked out that my total daily Levemir dose added up to about 27 units, so I suspected 25 was just short. But honestly? I was scared of that “big once-a-day dose.”

After a few days, I upped it to 28, and things began to settle.

What I Noticed on Tresiba

Here’s the honest breakdown of my early experience:

  • It felt no different at first. Which in itself was kind of a good thing.
  • Fewer hypos. I definitely noticed I wasn’t dipping as much, especially overnight.
  • One injection instead of two. Sounds simple, but not doing that second jab felt like a genuine win.
  • No changes in food, sleep, or exercise. My routine stayed the same, which reassured me.
  • I got ill. Annoyingly, just as I switched, I came down with a cold. Runny nose, no energy, the usual autumn thing. Whether it was linked or just bad timing, I’ll never know. (By the way, I’m still ill now as I’m writing this — so if my voice sounds different on the episode, that’s why!)
  • The mental relief. This was a big one. With Levemir, I was tied to an 8am and 8pm basal injection. Miss one, and my day was chaos. Tresiba’s flexibility means I’m less stressed if I’m not bang on time.

Things I Got Wrong (and Had to Learn)

At one point, I started doing correction doses before bed. I blamed Tresiba for my highs. But truthfully? It was me rage-bolusing when I was a bit fed up with numbers. Once I calmed down and trusted the insulin, things levelled out.

It reminded me of an important lesson: when switching insulins, give it time. Tresiba takes a while to “bed in” because it’s such a long-acting insulin. Jumping to conclusions too quickly only stresses you out.

Comparing Levemir and Tresiba

So, is Tresiba better than Levemir? Honestly, I wouldn’t say that. And I wouldn’t say Levemir is better either.

They’re just different tools for the same job: keeping us alive.

Here’s how I see it now:

  • Levemir gave me flexibility with two doses.
  • Tresiba gives me freedom with just one.
  • Both worked when the dose was right.
  • Both needed trial and error at the start.

The biggest hurdle is simply finding the right dose. Once that’s sorted, life feels normal again.

If you’re making the switch, my advice is simple:

  1. Start with a 1:1 conversion.
  2. Be patient.
  3. Tweak like we’ve all learned to do over the years.

Key Takeaways

Switching from Levemir to Tresiba isn’t scary once you get started.

Give Tresiba time to settle before judging it.

Expect dose adjustments — don’t panic if your first number isn’t perfect.

Enjoy the mental relief of one basal injection a day.

Neither insulin is “better.” They’re just different.

Helpful Links

Diabetes UK: Novo Nordisk to Withdraw Levemir – What You Need to Know

Tresiba Official Site

Lantus Official Site

Final Thoughts

Switching from something you’ve trusted for years can feel overwhelming. I’ll admit I dragged my feet. I stalled. I worried. But once I actually started using Tresiba, I realised life didn’t change that much.

The truth is, it’s still just insulin. It still does the job. And as long as the dose is right, it works.

So if you’re facing the same change, my advice is: don’t wait until Levemir runs out. Make the switch, test it, and find what works for you.

It’s not better, it’s not worse. It’s just the next chapter in our Type 1 diabetes journey.

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