Managing Your LANTUS® Treatment Program
Success at controlling your blood sugar with LANTUS® requires consistency.
Establish a comfortable insulin treatment routine and follow it every day. Inject
your LANTUS® just once a day, at the same time each day. Follow all the steps
for proper injection to help ensure an accurate dose each time. Otherwise, you may
not get the right amount of insulin, which can affect your blood sugar levels.
Help manage your blood sugar by eating a healthy diet and exercising. They’re both
important for controlling your blood sugar. If you are planning to change either
one, check with your doctor first.
Take your other diabetes medicines, as directed by your doctor.
Check your blood sugar regularly and keep a log. This will help you and your doctor
see what works and what doesn't.
Know your target. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), healthy
blood sugar levels for most patients with diabetes are:
- Before meals or upon waking: 70-130 mg/dL
- 2 hours after a meal: <180 mg/dL
The ADA also recommends an A1C goal of less than 7% for people with diabetes.
Work with your doctor to set blood sugar goals that are right for you. If you’re
doing everything and your blood sugar levels are still too high, talk with your
doctor.
"I have patients tell me all the time that they know when their blood sugar is out of control. They can feel it. Well, you can't go by how you feel."
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Important Safety Information for Lantus®
Do not take Lantus® if you are allergic to insulin or any of the inactive ingredients
in Lantus®.
You must test your blood sugar levels while using insulin, such as Lantus®.
Do not make any changes to your dose or type of insulin without talking to your
healthcare provider. Any change of insulin should be made cautiously and only under
medical supervision.
Do NOT dilute or mix Lantus® with any other insulin or solution.
It will not work as intended and you may lose blood sugar control, which could be
serious. Lantus® must only be used if the solution is clear and colorless with
no particles visible. Do not share needles, insulin pens or syringes with others.
The most common side effect of insulin, including Lantus®, is low blood
sugar (hypoglycemia), which may be serious. Some people may experience
symptoms such as shaking, sweating, fast heartbeat, and blurred vision. Severe hypoglycemia
may be serious and life threatening. It may cause harm to your heart or brain. Other
possible side effects may include injection site reactions, including changes in
fat tissue at the injection site, and allergic reactions, including itching and
rash. In rare cases, some allergic reactions may be life threatening.
Tell your doctor about other medicines and supplements you are taking because they
can change the way insulin works. Before starting Lantus®, tell your doctor
about all your medical conditions including if you have liver or kidney problems,
are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding or planning to
breast-feed.
Lantus® SoloSTAR® is a disposable prefilled insulin pen. Please talk to your healthcare
provider about proper injection technique and follow instructions in the Instruction
Leaflet that accompanies the pen.
Click here for full prescribing information for Lantus®.
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