Lantus how long to work

Hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide may have been added to adjust for pH. Cartridge Each mL of sterile solution contains units of insulin glargine. Your required dose of insulin depends on how much natural insulin your pancreas is producing and how well your body is able to use the insulin.

Your doctor or diabetes educator will determine the appropriate dose for you according to various lifestyle factors and the blood glucose values obtained while monitoring your blood glucose. Your dose of insulin should be injected subcutaneously under the skin exactly as instructed by your doctor or diabetes educator. Do not inject insulin glargine into the vein and do not use insulin glargine in insulin infusion pumps.

The dose of insulin is measured in international units IU. Each 1 mL of insulin contains IU. Insulin glargine is injected under the skin once daily. In addition to insulin glargine, doses of a fast-acting insulin are usually used to control the impact of food intake on blood sugar levels during the day.

There are many variations of insulin dosing. Insulin glargine should be clear and colourless. Do not use the insulin if you notice anything unusual in the appearance of the solution, such as cloudiness, discoloration, or clumping. It is not necessary to shake or rotate the vial before use. It should not be mixed with other insulins. Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications.

If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are using the medication without consulting your doctor. It is very important to use this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The timing of insulin with respect to your meals is crucial to keeping blood sugar under control and preventing unwanted side effects.

Keep unopened bottles of insulin in the refrigerator until needed. They may be used until the expiry date on the label. Never allow insulin to freeze. Insulin that is currently in use may be kept at room temperature for no more than 28 days and then discarded. Do not expose insulin to extremely hot temperatures or to sunlight. Keep insulin out of the reach of children. Do not dispose of medications in wastewater e.

Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired. Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses.

Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent. The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time. Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not check with your doctor or seek medical attention.

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:. Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication. However, there was a lower risk of severe low blood sugar and low blood sugar at night with Tresiba.

Lantus and Tresiba are both brand-name drugs. Lantus may be used with other diabetes medications, including other injectable drugs or medications taken by mouth. People with type 1 diabetes will need to take Lantus along with a mealtime insulin. A mealtime insulin is needed to control spikes in blood sugar that occur after eating.

People with type 2 diabetes will also likely need to take other diabetes medications besides Lantus. There are several different types of injectable or oral taken by mouth medications that your doctor may prescribe. These drugs lower your blood sugar further and help prevent serious complications, such as nerve damage.

Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect. The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to suit your needs.

Note : Making any changes to your insulin treatment plan could increase your risk for both hypoglycemia low blood sugar levels and hyperglycemia high blood sugar levels. Lantus comes as a liquid solution inside vials and disposable, prefilled pens. Each vial of Lantus contains 10 milliliters mL of solution. Each mL contains units of insulin glargine. This strength is also called Lantus U The disposable, prefilled pen of Lantus is called SoloStar.

Each pen contains 3 mL of solution. There are units of insulin glargine in each mL. That adds up to a total of units of insulin per Lantus SoloStar pen. And keep in mind that each form of Lantus takes a different needle type. The Lantus vial and Lantus SoloStar pen are both meant to be used more than once.

This is known as being multi-dose. The number of times will be different for each person, depending on your dosage. You can use the vials and pens for up to 28 days after you open them. After that time, you should dispose of the vial or pen, even if it still contains some of the drug. If you have type 1 diabetes , the starting dose of Lantus is generally about one-third of your total daily insulin dose. Your total daily insulin dose is based on your weight.

It typically ranges from 0. There are about 2. For example, a lb man weighs about 68 kg. If his doctor prescribes 0. His starting dose of Lantus would be about one-third of 34 units, which is about 11 units of Lantus. The drug is given as an injection just under your skin a subcutaneous injection.

You can inject Lantus in the skin of your upper arms, belly at least 2 inches away from your belly button , or thighs. The usual starting dose of Lantus for people with type 2 diabetes is 0. The usual starting dose of Lantus for children with type 1 diabetes is calculated in the same way as for adults.

The dosage of Lantus for these children is about one-third of their total daily insulin dose. It ranges from 0. For example, a lb child weighs about 27 kg. If her doctor prescribes 0. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. This could increase your risk for serious side effects, such as hypoglycemia low blood sugar levels. You might. Lantus is typically used for long-term treatment of diabetes. Lantus can interact with several other medications.

It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe. Below are lists of medications that can interact with Lantus. Before taking Lantus, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take.

Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Taking Lantus with other diabetes medications can increase your risk for hypoglycemia low blood sugar level.

If you take Lantus with other diabetes drugs, your doctor may need to adjust your dosage of one or all of them to reduce your risk for low blood sugar.

They may also want you to monitor your blood sugar levels more often. Examples of other diabetes medications that can increase your risk for low blood sugar if taken with Lantus include:. Taking Lantus with thiazolidinediones can cause heart failure , or worsen heart failure if you already have it. If you take a thiazolidinedione, be sure to discuss it with your doctor before you start treatment with Lantus.

If you take one of these drugs with Lantus, your doctor will likely monitor you for signs of heart failure. Taking Lantus with certain blood pressure medications can increase your risk for hypoglycemia low blood sugar level. If you take Lantus with one of these drugs, your doctor may need to adjust the dosage of either Lantus or the blood pressure medication. Examples of blood pressure medications that can increase your risk for low blood sugar if taken with Lantus include:. Taking Lantus with other types of blood pressure medications can hide the symptoms of low blood sugar when they occur.

This can put you at risk for severe hypoglycemia very low blood sugar level with little warning. If you take Lantus with any of these drugs, your doctor may want you to check your blood sugar levels more often. Taking Lantus with certain antipsychotics can decrease how well Lantus works.

This can lead to high blood sugar levels and an increased risk of complications from diabetes. They may also recommend that you check your blood sugar levels more often. Taking Lantus with corticosteroids can decrease how well Lantus works. This could increase your blood sugar levels, leading to a higher risk of serious complications, such as heart disease.

They will also advise you to check your blood sugar levels more often. However, drinking too much alcohol while taking Lantus can increase your risk for hypoglycemia low blood sugar levels. This is because both alcohol and Lantus can lower blood sugar levels on their own.

Lantus is classified as a long-acting insulin. It lowers blood sugar levels in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Lantus is made to work like natural insulin in your body.

Insulin is a hormone that does the following:. So you take medication, such as Lantus, to replace the insulin. Your pancreas may also stop making insulin, which would need to be replaced with medication. Lantus starts lowering blood sugar levels within a few hours. Long-acting insulins take longer than short-acting insulins to start working. But they last longer in your body. After you inject Lantus, the drug forms clusters beneath your skin. As these clusters break down, insulin is slowly released into your bloodstream throughout the hour period.

The solution in the vial is injected using a syringe and needle. Your doctor will discuss whether the vial or SoloStar pen is right for you. Whether you use a syringe or the Solostar pen, never reuse a needle or share a needle with another person.

This helps prevent the spread of germs. Below is information on how to use the vial and syringe, and SoloStar pen. Lantus is given as an injection just under your skin a subcutaneous injection , once a day.

When you first get your Lantus prescription, your healthcare provider will explain how to inject the medication yourself. You can take Lantus at any time, but it should be at the same time each day.

Ask your doctor what time is best for you. Many people take their Lantus dose at bedtime. However, according to the American Diabetes Association , insulin therapy such as Lantus is the first-choice option for diabetes treatment during pregnancy.

Insulin therapy is also recommended for women who developed diabetes while pregnant called gestational diabetes. If you need treatment to help control your blood sugar levels during pregnancy, talk with your doctor. This can help keep your blood sugar levels in a safe range for you and your baby. However, you may need a different dose of Lantus for a time after you give birth. This is due to changes in your body and changes in your sleep and mealtime schedules. You may need a rapid-acting insulin , short-acting insulin, or intermediate-acting insulin to fine-tune your blood sugar level control.

Many people who use a long-acting insulin such as Lantus will also need rapid-acting or short-acting insulin to control blood sugar levels after meals. This could change how well the insulins work. If you have any questions about when or how to take each type of insulin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. In clinical studies , blood sugar levels were reduced to a similar degree whether people took Lantus in the morning or evening.

Your doctor will monitor how your blood sugar levels change throughout the day. It can. My diagnosis was a wake-up call. It was time to take care of my health. Learn more about its symptoms, causes, and treatment. I learned that the best type 2 diabetes diet is the one that works for you. Members of the T2D Healthline community understand well how managing diabetes can feel overwhelming. These 6 tips can help make it easier.

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