There are several types of insulin used to treat type I and sometimes type II diabetes. Lantus insulin is a synthetic form called glargine insulin. This form of insulin is promoted as working for 24 hours at a stretch and now is available in single-use, pre-loaded insulin pens. This prevents the necessity of injecting more than once per day.
Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia
Insulin injections are used to balance the glucose sugar levels in the human blood stream. This does not always work exactly as predicted, so there is a chance of having low blood sugar or high blood sugar levels when taking Lantus Insulin. Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar can cause such effects as hunger, confusion, sweating, unusual behavior, anxiety, double or blurry vision, tremors, seizures, palpitations and unconsciousness. Hyperglycemia or high blood sugar levels can cause fatigue, blurry vision, increased urination and raised thirstiness.
Seizures
A rare but quite serious side effect of Lantus insulin is seizures. While seizures may be mild, they also may be severe. They can cause you to stare blankly into space or become unconscious. A seizure may cause confusion. A seizure also may send your body into uncontrolled movements, especially of the extremities. Any such incident should be reported to your physician immediately.
Body Surface
Injecting Lantus insulin can cause problems at the site of the injection. These types of side effects may include skin thickening, pain at the injection site, skin depression where the needle is used, a red area, itching or swelling. There also may be some body surface problems not near the injection site such as bloating in the hands, face, feet or legs.
Eye Problems
Retinopathy is a problem that can have an effect on vision because it is an eye disease concentrated in the wall at the back of the eye. According to the Mayo Clinic, retinopathy may cause initially mild vision difficulties, but may result eventually in blindness. Signs of this side effect from Lantus insulin may include decreased vision at night, floaters in the field of vision or blurry vision, or streaks or redness that can prevent you from seeing properly. This side effect also may occur as a result of diabetes itself.
