Lantus

Questions and Answers About Lantus 

I missed a injection of Lantus. What should I do?

When you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as possible. Do not take the missed dose if your following amount is almost due. Continue taking your regular schedule instead.

If your doctor or healthcare professional instructs you to take more than one dose in 24 hours, then you shouldn’t. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) is one profound side effect that could occur.

You can avoid missing a dose of medication by setting up medication reminders.

Does this drug need to be taken for an extended period?

It’s possible. The drug is usually prescribed to treat diabetes over the long term. Your doctor will probably prescribe this drug for you long-term if they determine that it is safe and effective for you.

Is it possible to take too much Lantus?

You can suffer serious side effects from taking too much of this medication. An overdose can cause severe hypoglycemia and hypokalemia (low potassium levels), 

How do I use Lantus?

Follow your prescriber’s instructions closely, as Lantus insulin is prescribed with specific instructions that must be followed. It is important that you use Lantus exactly as your physician has prescribed. There is no set time when to take it, but you should take it every day at the same time.

Do I have to stop using my mealtime insulin or other insulins when using Lantus?

Perhaps. Long-acting insulins such as Lantus allow individuals to take them for the duration of the day. It is commonly known as basal or “background” insulin because it controls blood glucose levels between meals and overnight.

Blood sugar spikes after eating aren’t usually managed with Lantus. To find the right level of blood sugar control for you, you can use rapid-acting insulin, short-acting insulin, or intermediate-acting insulin. For many people who take long-acting insulin such as Lantus, rapid-acting or short-acting insulin is required to balance blood sugar levels after meals.

It isn’t a good idea to mix Lantus and any other insulin in the same syringe if you take more than one type of insulin. The insulins might not work as well.

It would be best to talk to your doctor, healthcare professional, nurse, or pharmacist before taking any insulin.

Lantus should be taken in the morning or at night?

Your blood sugar levels may change throughout the day and determine the best time to take Lantus.

People taking Lantus in the morning and evening experienced similar reductions in blood sugar levels in clinical studies.

You and your doctor will be monitoring your blood sugar levels throughout the day. The doctor will then suggest the most convenient time to take Lantus.

Is Lantus used to treat diabetic ketoacidosis?

It doesn’t. Diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) cannot be treated with Lantus.

Diabetes complications like DKA are serious. When you have low insulin levels, and high blood sugar levels, hyperglycemia, sugar cannot be used as energy because insulin is not available to move sugar into your cells. Rather than converting fat into power, the body breaks down fat into ketones (a type of protein). Your body’s organs are harmed by acidic blood resulting from high ketones levels.

Treatment for DKA takes place at a hospital. Sugar is brought into the cells by insulin. The problem with Lantus is that it takes too long to begin working when used for this process. Diabetes mellitus type 2 is typically treated with faster-acting insulins such as insulin aspart, insulin glulisine, or insulin lispro.

How can I get rid of my Lantus properly after I finished it?

After injecting Lantus with a syringe or pen, throw away the needle right away. Do not discard it without putting it in a durable container, such as a sharps disposal container. A sharps container approved by the FDA can be obtained at your pharmacy, through medical supply companies, or online. When your sharps container is full, find a program that will take it.

Use a puncture-resistant plastic container to store used needles and empty pens if you don’t have a sharps container. The container should be unable to contain needles that could poke through it.

Used detergent bottles and metal coffee cans are examples of containers you can use. A label should be attached to the package to alert people that needles are inside. Store the container away from children and pets at all times, and keep the lid on it.

The safe disposal of leftover Lantus medication is imperative if you no longer require it. This prevents others’ accidental ingestion of the drug, such as children and pets. Furthermore, it prevents harm to the environment.