Lantus insulin when does it peak

Top of the page. Topic Overview Insulin is used to treat people who have diabetes. Types of insulin footnote 1 Type Examples Appearance When it starts to work onset The time of greatest effect peak How long it lasts duration Rapid-acting Apidra insulin glulisine Clear 10—15 minutes 1—1.

Types of insulin. Canadian Journal of Diabetes , 42 Suppl 1 : S DOI: Accessed November 16, Other Works Consulted Insulin degludec injection Facts and Comparisons eAnswers.

Accessed December 30, Insulin detemir injection Accessed May 13, Insulin glargine rDNA origin injection Insulin glulisine rDNA origin injection A larger peak in activity at 6 to 8 hours is associated with a shorter action time, and vice versa. Anyone who does not take their long-acting insulin at about the same time each day can also experience gaps and stacking of insulin with a single injection a day. Smaller doses of these insulins are also often associated with less than 24 hours of activity.

If one injection is given in the morning, high readings may occur before breakfast due to the lessening activity from the previous dose.

After splitting a single dose of Lantus or Levemir , many people find they have better readings. This is because both alcohol and Lantus can lower blood sugar levels on their own. Lantus is classified as a long-acting insulin. It lowers blood sugar levels in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Lantus is made to work like natural insulin in your body. Insulin is a hormone that does the following:. So you take medication, such as Lantus, to replace the insulin. Your pancreas may also stop making insulin, which would need to be replaced with medication.

Lantus starts lowering blood sugar levels within a few hours. Long-acting insulins take longer than short-acting insulins to start working. But they last longer in your body. After you inject Lantus, the drug forms clusters beneath your skin. As these clusters break down, insulin is slowly released into your bloodstream throughout the hour period.

The solution in the vial is injected using a syringe and needle. Your doctor will discuss whether the vial or SoloStar pen is right for you. Whether you use a syringe or the Solostar pen, never reuse a needle or share a needle with another person. This helps prevent the spread of germs.

Below is information on how to use the vial and syringe, and SoloStar pen. Lantus is given as an injection just under your skin a subcutaneous injection , once a day. When you first get your Lantus prescription, your healthcare provider will explain how to inject the medication yourself. You can take Lantus at any time, but it should be at the same time each day. Ask your doctor what time is best for you.

Many people take their Lantus dose at bedtime. However, according to the American Diabetes Association , insulin therapy such as Lantus is the first-choice option for diabetes treatment during pregnancy. Insulin therapy is also recommended for women who developed diabetes while pregnant called gestational diabetes. If you need treatment to help control your blood sugar levels during pregnancy, talk with your doctor.

This can help keep your blood sugar levels in a safe range for you and your baby. However, you may need a different dose of Lantus for a time after you give birth. This is due to changes in your body and changes in your sleep and mealtime schedules. You may need a rapid-acting insulin , short-acting insulin, or intermediate-acting insulin to fine-tune your blood sugar level control. Many people who use a long-acting insulin such as Lantus will also need rapid-acting or short-acting insulin to control blood sugar levels after meals.

This could change how well the insulins work. If you have any questions about when or how to take each type of insulin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. In clinical studies , blood sugar levels were reduced to a similar degree whether people took Lantus in the morning or evening. Your doctor will monitor how your blood sugar levels change throughout the day. It can. Hypoglycemia low blood sugar levels is one of the most common side effects of insulin products, including Lantus.

Also, making any changes to your insulin treatment plan could increase your risk for both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia high blood sugar levels. Severe hypoglycemia very low blood sugar level can be life-threatening if not treated right away. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about creating a plan to prevent and manage low blood sugar levels. DKA is a serious complication of diabetes. It occurs when your blood sugar levels are very high but your insulin levels are low.

Instead, your body starts breaking down fat into ketones a certain type of protein for energy. High levels of ketones make your blood more acidic, which can harm many organs in your body. DKA treatment takes place in a hospital setting.

Treatment involves using insulin to bring sugar into your cells. Faster-acting insulins such as insulin aspart Fiasp, Novolog , insulin glulisine Apidra , or insulin lispro Admelog, Humalog are typically used as part of DKA treatment. Before taking Lantus, talk with your doctor about your health history. Lantus may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions.

These include:. When you get Lantus from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the bottle. This date is typically one year from the date they dispensed the medication. The expiration date helps guarantee the effectiveness of the medication during this time.

If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk to your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it. How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication. You should store unopened Lantus vials in your refrigerator until the expiration date listed on the package.

Once you open a Lantus vial, you can store it at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 28 days. You can store unopened Lantus SoloStar pens in the refrigerator until the expiration date listed on the package.

You can also store them for 28 days at room temperature. You should store unopened Lantus SoloStar pens in the refrigerator until the expiration date listed on the package. You should never freeze Lantus vials and SoloStar pens. Also, keep them out of direct heat and light.

Put it in a hard container, such as a sharps disposal container. You can get an FDA-approved sharps container at your pharmacy, through medical supply companies, or online. Examples of containers that you can use include metal coffee cans and used laundry detergent bottles. Put a label on the container to warn people that there are needles inside. Be sure to keep a lid on the container at all times and store it away from children and pets.

This helps prevent others, including children and pets, from taking the drug by accident. It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment. The FDA website provides several useful tips on medication disposal. You can also ask your pharmacist for information on how to dispose of your medication. Lantus insulin glargine is indicated to improve blood glucose control in adults and children with type 1 diabetes and in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Lantus is a long-acting analog of human insulin engineered to be less soluble at physiological pH, causing crystallization at the injection site, a delay in absorption, and prolongation of action.

Lantus exerts its hypoglycemic effects by increasing peripheral glucose uptake and inhibiting hepatic gluconeogenesis. It also prevents fat and protein degradation while stimulating protein synthesis. Following subcutaneous injection, absorption of Lantus is relatively constant over a hour period. Due to the consistency of insulin glargine, it does not have a defined half-life or peak. There is no peak concentration, as the release in the body remains constant.

Lantus is partly metabolized in the subcutaneous depot to two active metabolites, which have similar activity to human insulin. Median time to end of pharmacological effect is 24 hours. Lantus is contraindicated for use during hypoglycemic episodes. Unopened Lantus vials and SoloStar pens should be stored at room temperature Opened pens should be stored at room temperature for 28 days. Opened pens should not be refrigerated. Disclaimer : Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date.

However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. Learn more. My diagnosis was a wake-up call. It was time to take care of my health. Learn more about its symptoms, causes, and treatment. I learned that the best type 2 diabetes diet is the one that works for you. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Type 2 Diabetes.

Medically reviewed by Susan J. Bliss, R. This is where long-acting insulin comes in. Types of insulin. Long-acting insulin.