Week 3: Expect the Unexpected
There are occasions in life that you can enjoy planning for, such as birthdays, holidays, and family vacations.
Then there are events that can take anyone by surprise, like a last-minute invitation to dinner, or an overnight
business meeting out of town. Whether expected or not, it helps to be prepared with a plan of action. Here are a
few tips to help you get started.
Special Occasions
The trick to enjoying special events like Thanksgiving dinner or a night on the town is to think ahead. Here are some suggestions.
- Eat a healthy snack before you leave home to avoid overeating later.
- Don't skip a meal in anticipation of eating a large amount of food later in the day.
- Choose low-calorie drinks like sparkling water, diet soda, or cold filtered water. Ask your doctor about drinking alcohol.
- Choose low-sodium foods and avoid adding salt.
- Plan to have fruit for dessert.
- Ask someone to dance.
Traveling
Check out these suggestions before you check in to your destination.
- Bring twice the amount of medicine, snacks, etc., in case of delays.
- Keep all of your diabetes supplies with you in your carry-on luggage in case you need to access them quickly.
- If you’re traveling with an unopened Lantus® Solostar® pen or vial, please click here for more information.
- If an in-flight meal will be served, call ahead to request a healthier low-fat or low cholesterol choice.
- Bring a nutritious meal if none is offered during your flight.
- Pack a small cooler of healthy foods that may be hard to find at your destination.
- Be sure to wear a medical ID bracelet or carry identification, like a wallet card, that says you have diabetes and keep your medical insurance card and emergency phone numbers handy.
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®.
Click here for information on Sharps Medical Waste Disposal.
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.