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Why Consider Insulin?
Why Consider Insulin?
Insulin therapy can help control your blood sugar levels
For many people with type 2 diabetes, diet, exercise, and other diabetes medicines alone do not bring
their blood sugar levels under control. Adding insulin can help. Insulin replaces
what your body isn't making enough of naturally to help control blood sugar.
What is Insulin?
When we eat, most of the food breaks down into glucose (sugar). That sugar goes
into our bloodstream. We need insulin to turn that blood sugar into energy that
our cells can use.
For many people, just the right amount of insulin is released from the pancreas
to help the body use or store the sugar it gets from food. For people with type
2 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin—or the body can't properly use the insulin it produces—to keep their blood sugar
controlled. Adding insulin to an overall diabetes treatment plan of diet, exercise, and other diabetes medicines helps to control the level of sugar in the blood.
Fast Fact
The
ADA recommends that treatment should be changed within 2 to 3 months if the A1C
goal set by your doctor has not been reached. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), insulin is proven to lower
blood sugar levels when used as part of an overall diabetes treatment plan, which may include diet, exercise, and other diabetes medicines.
“I would have started insulin sooner if I had known it would work for me.”
-Arturo, taking Lantus®
SoloSTAR® since 2007
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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The health information contained herein is provided for general educational purposes
only. Your healthcare professional is the single best source of information regarding
your health. Please consult your healthcare professional if you have any questions
about your health or treatment.