What is Lantus insulin? How Does It Benefit and What are Its Side Effects?

Lantus is a brand-name prescription medication that contains insulin glargine drugs. Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin that is designed to overcome the deficiencies of traditional insulins [1]. The drug is effective in the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It reduces the risk of hypoglycemia. Further, it can improve your HbA1c in the long run and lower the complications of diabetes [2].

A Lantus injection is available as a solution inside 10ml vials. This is also called inj. Glargine. It contains 100 units of insulin per ml. These vials are used with needles. Lantus is also available as a prefilled insulin pen. The Lantus insulin pen contains 3ml of the drug solution. Each ml has 100 units of insulin. Read on to know how Lantus cartridge injection is used and what its side effects are.

Additional Read: Insulin Dose Calculation: Why is it Important and How to Compute Yours?

Uses of Lantus

For Type 1 Diabetes

For people with type 1 diabetes, the pancreas do not produce any insulin. This is the hormone that helps glucose get absorbed into cells and provides energy. Your body requires insulin to function properly. Lack of insulin leads to high blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes is a long-term chronic condition that can cause serious health problems if not treated. High blood glucose can affect your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart.

Type 1 diabetes mostly occurs in children and young adults [3]. Some symptoms of this condition include:

• Sores
• Dry itchy skin
• Blurry eyesight
• Tiredness
• Frequent urination

A blood test can help determine diabetes. If you are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, then you need to take insulin for the rest of your life. Lantus insulin is approved by FDA and is prescribed to improve blood sugar levels in adults and children above 6 years with type 1 diabetes.

For Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a condition where your body doesn’t make enough insulin or your cells do not respond to insulin well. This leads to an increase in blood sugar levels. As your cells do not respond to insulin, your body does not get enough energy to function properly. Type 2 diabetes can further lead to nerve damage and other complications. 

Several factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and genetics can lead to this chronic long-term condition. The disease is more common in middle-aged and older people over the age of 45. However, children and younger adults can also develop type 2 diabetes. In some cases, type 2 diabetics need to take insulin as their bodies stop making insulin. Lantus insulin is approved by FDA as it helps improve blood sugars levels and control type 2 diabetes symptoms.

Side Effects of Lantus

Lantus insulin can cause some mild as well as serious side effects. Here is a list of a few side affects you may experience after taking inj. Lantus.

Common side effects:

• Itchy skin
• Rash over the entire body
• Unexplained weight gain
• Respiratory infections including common cold
• Edema or swelling mostly in your legs, ankles, or feet
• Lipodystrophy or changes in skin thickness and hollowing of skin at the injected site
• Reactions at the site of injection such as pain, itchiness, redness, swelling, and tenderness
• Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels: Symptoms include dizziness, nervousness, sweating, hunger, child, sleepiness, headache, blurred vision, confusion, and irritability

Severe side effects:

• Breathing difficulties or shortness of breath
• Rapid weight gain
• Allergic reactions: Symptoms include skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of face, lips, or tongue
• Hypokalemia: Symptoms such as weakness, muscle cramping, fatigue, paralysis, abnormal heart rhythm, and respiratory failure
• Severe hypoglycemia or very low blood sugar levels: Symptoms include anxiety, dizziness, shakiness, confusion, fast heart rate, and loss of consciousness

The above list does not cover all the side effects of Lantus insulin. For details on all possible side effects, consult your doctor. He or she will give you medications and tips to handle these symptoms. The Lantus insulin price differs for vials and pens. Ask your doctor for the best option for yourself. 

Additional Read: Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: How Are They Different?

Apart from controlling the glycemic index with insulin, make sure you focus on the right diabetes diet to maintain a normal blood sugar level. Manage your diabetes well by booking an appointment with the best doctors on Bajaj Finserv Health. This way, you can get the right advice and tips for keeping your sugar levels in control.