If your doctor has recommended insulin, you might be wondering where you went wrong.
About 40% of people with diabetes nationwide did not have adequate blood sugar control
on diabetes pills alone.**
You see, diabetes is a progressive disease, so your treatment plan may need to be
adjusted over time. For people with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar is uncontrolled,
adding insulin replaces what your body isn't adequately making to help control blood
sugar.
You must test your blood sugar levels while using insulin, such as LANTUS®.
Regardless of how you feel about your diabetes or insulin, it's important to get
your blood sugar under good control. And along with a program of diet, exercise,
and your other diabetes medicines, insulin may help improve your blood sugar control.
"When my doctor first told me I had diabetes, I was kind of concerned. It was like, 'What am I going to do now?' It all seemed complicated."
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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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**According to national survey data from 2003-2004.