Has anyone used Lantus insulin and has had success with it?

Question

I keep putting it off for no apparent reason, except I'm scared of it. Even though I've been given the approx. amount to take, still not sure about the whole thing. Plus, I'm going to take it in the morning and not at night.

I'm also taking Humalog with my meals. Can I take Lantus first thing without eating? I'm a little confused about the whole thing. I was taking Ultralente Humulin as my long acting insulin and will need to switch to Lantus soon.

Answer 1

My best friend uses Lantus. She injects once a day (morning) and then uses short acting insulin as she needs it through the day. Her control has been much better with it.

Answer 2

I've been taking Lantus for several years and I love it. The only problem I have found is that if I take my short acting insulin (novolog) and my Lantus within, oh about 15 minutes of each other, it will cause me to go low.

I was told to begin with to eat 1 carb (15g) with my Lantus shot. But I recently switched doctors and he said it wasn't necessary but if that's how I'd been doing it it was perfectly fine. I take my Lantus at night, before I go to bed, so that may have been the reason I was told to eat beforehand. I would think that by taking it in the morning you wouldn't necessarily have to eat with it.

Lantus was explained to me as being on the pump without being on the pump. You have a lot of freedom with it. Hopefully everything works out well!

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Lantus is a LONG-acting BACKGROUND insulin which should remain in your body about 16 hours or so - it is used as a SINGLE dose per 24 hours ONLY.

You will still need your regular FAST-acting insulin (eg. Novarapid) with EVERY meal.

Do NOT confuse the two. You will be using BOTH - but for different purposes.

And yes, Lantus is safe - remember to start at a low dosage - and adjust upwards (over a few days of testing) till you feel it is the correct dose. Everyone's body is different - so you have to find your optimal dosage over time.

Answer 5

Yes you should take lantus before you eat if you take it in the morning as it is a long acting insulin. It works very well and may even help eliminate some of the humolog you need with your meals. Start taking it and help get your diabetes under better control. I work in a nursing home and we use it a lot and works well. I also have two personal close friends who use it.

Answer 6

I've been using Lantus for about 2 years now. My endocronoligist recommended using it at night-just before I go to bed. Lantus when mixed with other types of insulin can cause very deep lows, so that is why bedtime - when I am takiing no other insulin.

Lantus keeps your sugars at a consistent level. It is helping me a lot.

Answer 7

I take 35 units per night. No biggie - actually its a lot better than others. I combine this with Exubera which is the fast acting inhalable insulin. Lantis is great - long and steady sugar readings.

Lantus will not act as fast as your Humalog.

Answer 8

Lantus® is safe if used properly and injected as directed - and in the long run a long acting insulin given at bedtime will definetly reduce the dosage of other shorter acting insulins and possibly reduce the strengths of the oral meds

Answer 9

Lantus is fine in the AM -- In my case, I needed to supplement with Novolog with each meal. Now that I've lost weight, I'm off the novolog. For a while, I was doing the Lantus in the evening, and I opted to go back to morning.

Good luck with your diabetes.

Answer 10

I been using lantus insulin for about 4 years now , plus I been taking metformin and amaryl ..it does help I'm doing 66 units of insulin a day now they got me doing another shot in the afternoon of APEDRA insulin [ dose depends on my afternoon blood sugar reading]..I been doing the shots either in the arm or stomach but it does help with dieting and exerise