Drug & supplement interaction

Phlorizin + Insulin determir

Insulin determir brand name: Levemir.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Phlorizin has a moderate interaction with Insulin determir. Phlorizin is a potent, nonselective inhibitor of SGLT1 and SGLT2.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Phlorizin and Insulin determir

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Insulin determir

Insulin determir falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Phlorizin interacts with.

Phlorizin is a potent, nonselective inhibitor of SGLT1 and SGLT2. It has been shown to reduce blood glucose levels in animal research. Theoretically, phlorizin might have additive effects with antidiabetes drugs and increase the risk of hypoglycemia. However, the likelihood of this effect is unclear due to the poor bioavailability and rapid degradation of phlorizin. Monitor blood glucose levels closely. Dose adjustments might be necessary.
Some antidiabetes drugs include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version: Levemir (insulin detemir) is your long-acting background insulin that gently lowers blood sugar through the day and night. Phlorizin works in a totally different way, pushing extra sugar out through your urine. Stack those two together and the lowering effects can pile up, which in theory could push your blood sugar too low. With insulin, a low can show up as shakiness, sweating, a racing heart, confusion, or in serious cases passing out.

Now, the honest part: this concern is mostly theory based on how phlorizin behaves in the body and in animal studies. It's poorly absorbed when swallowed and breaks down fast, so real-world risk may be small. Still, if you ever combine them, check your sugars closely and talk with your pharmacist or doctor before changing anything.

References
  1. Chao EC, Henry RR. SGLT2 inhibition--a novel strategy for diabetes treatment. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2010;9(7):551-9. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Phlorizin Also Interacts With Other Medications

Phlorizin has 85 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Insulin determir one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Phlorizin

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Phlorizin. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Insulin determir

This page covers Phlorizin only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Insulin determir page lists 242 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Chelation Therapy Products (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Acai (moderate), African Wild Potato (moderate) and Agaricus Mushroom (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 211 moderate · 29 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Insulin determir page

“Anyone using insulin detemir (Levemir) should treat this list with real caution, because nearly every one of the 242 ingredients on it acts on blood sugar, and most stack extra glucose-lowering on top of the insulin you already inject. Only two carry a major rating, but both deserve understanding first: Siberian cocklebur, which has ca…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Insulin determir interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Phlorizin as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 6 real supplement products containing Phlorizin, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Phlorizin. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Insulin determir too, on top of Phlorizin — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Phlorizin and Insulin determir Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Phlorizin
Top half

#506 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Insulin determir
Steady interest

#2,036 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Phlorizin

What is Phlorizin?

  • Blood sugar support
  • Diabetes research
  • Antioxidant
  • Weight management interest

Phlorizin is a natural plant compound (a dihydrochalcone) found in apple tree bark and other plants that has been studied mostly in the laboratory for its effects on blood sugar handling. There is no good human evidence that taking it as a supplement is safe or effective, and it is poorly absorbed when swallowed. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using any product containing it.

Read the full Phlorizin monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Insulin Detemir (rDNA Origin) Injection

What Is Insulin Detemir (rDNA Origin) Injection Used For?

Brand name: Levemir

Levemir (insulin detemir) is used to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in adults and children with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. It is a basal insulin, meaning it works around the clock to keep background blood sugar levels steady.

Levemir is not recommended for treating diabetic ketoacidosis (a dangerous buildup of acids in the blood that requires a different type of insulin).

See full Insulin Detemir (rDNA Origin) Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Phlorizin

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Phlorizin — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
85Moderate
0Minor
2,744No known interaction
Moderate

85 interactions

Showing 60 of 85 moderate interactions — see all 85 on the Phlorizin page.

No interaction 2,744 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Phlorizin and Insulin determir Together: Common Questions

Can you take Phlorizin with Insulin determir?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Phlorizin and Insulin determir interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Insulin determir and Phlorizin?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.