Insulin glargine is used to treat type 1 diabetes (condition in which the body does not produce insulin and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). It is also used to treat people with type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and, therefore, cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood) who need long-acting insulin to control their diabetes. Insulin glargine is a long-acting, man-made version of human insulin. Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas. Insulin helps move sugar from the blood into other body tissues where it is used for energy. It also helps the body break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins from the diet. In a person with diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin for the body's needs, so additional insulin is required. People with diabetes may gradually develop serious nerve, blood vessel, kidney, and eye problems if the diabetes is not controlled properly.
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Insulin glargine comes as an injection to inject subcutaneously (beneath the skin, not into a vein). It is injected once a day at bedtime. The medication comes in vials (bottles) and also prefilled containers called cartridges. The amount of insulin glargine you need depends on diet, other diseases, exercise, and other drugs you are taking and may change with time. Your doctor will tell you how much you should take. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take insulin glargine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than directed by the package label or prescribed by your doctor.
Insulin glargine controls diabetes but does not cure it. It must be taken regularly. Continue to take insulin glargine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking insulin glargine without talking to your doctor.
You do not have to shake the vial or cartridge of insulin glargine before use. Do not dilute or mix insulin glargine with any other insulin or solution. The syringe must not have any other medicine or residue in it.
If your insulin glargine comes in cartridges, the medication will already be inside. You must only use the OptiPen One Insulin Delivery Device with the cartridges. Before you use the device for the first time, read the written directions that come with it. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse to show you the right way to use this device. Practice while your health care provider watches.
If your insulin glargine comes in vials, you will have to withdraw (draw up) the medication into a syringe. Before you do this for the first time, read the written directions that come with it. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to show you the right way to withdraw the insulin glargine and to inject the medication subcutaneously. Practice while your health care provider watches.
If your insulin glargine comes in vials you will need to use syringes. Always use a syringe that is marked for U-100 insulin products. If you use the wrong syringe, you may get the wrong dose, and your blood glucose level may end up being too low or too high.
Plastic syringes are disposable; use a new one for each injection. Used needles will hurt more and may cause an infection. Never share needles and syringes. To withdraw insulin glargine into the syringe, follow these steps:
- Wash your hands.
- Hold the vial in your hands to warm the medicine. Look at the medicine in the vial. Make sure it is clear and colorless. If it is cloudy or has particles (specks) in it, throw the vial away and get a new one.
- If you are using a new vial, remove the protective cap. Do not remove the stopper (the rubber inside the cap).
- Wipe the top of the vial with an alcohol swab or cotton dipped in rubbing alcohol.
- It is easier to withdraw insulin glargine if you first inject air into the vial. To do this, pull the plunger (the cylinder inside the syringe) back to the number of insulin glargine units you will have to take. Now your syringe is filled with the right amount of air. Insert the needle through the rubber cap and push on the plunger to inject the air into the vial.
- Keep the syringe in the vial and turn both upside down. Hold the syringe and vial firmly with one hand.
- Make sure the tip of the needle is in the insulin. With your free hand, pull back on the plunger to withdraw insulin glargine into the syringe, and measure the correct number of units of insulin glargine.
- Before you take the needle out of the vial, be sure that there are no bubbles in the syringe. If there are bubbles in the syringe, hold the syringe straight up and tap the side of the syringe until the bubbles float to the top. Push the bubbles out with the plunger and draw insulin glargine back in until you have the correct dose.
- Remove the needle from the vial. Do not let the needle touch anything. You are now ready to inject.
- If you have trouble seeing the small markings on the syringe, have someone help you. Also, let your doctor and pharmacist know about this problem. They can provide syringes that are easier to read, special tools to help you fill the syringe, or prefilled syringes.
To inject your insulin glargine dose, follow these steps:
- Decide on an injection area--either your abdomen, buttocks, thighs, or arms.
- Clean the skin at the injection site with an alcohol pad or cotton dipped in rubbing alcohol.
- Pinch a fold of skin with your fingers at least 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) apart and insert the needle at a 45- to 90-degree angle.
- Then slowly push the plunger of the syringe all the way, making sure you have injected all the insulin glargine. Leave the needle in the skin for several seconds.
- Pull the needle straight out and press lightly on the spot where you injected yourself for several seconds. Do not rub the area.
- Follow the directions given to you for throwing away the needle and syringe.
Use a different site for each injection, about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) away from the previous injection but in the same general area (for example, the thigh). Use all available sites in the same general area before switching to a different area (for example, the upper arm). Do not use the same injection site more often than once every month.
- Lantus®
©2009. All Rights Reserved.
Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.
