Insulin is a hormone that is naturally produced in the body through the pancreas. Its role is to keep blood glucose, or sugar, to appropriate levels throughout the day. When you are unable to make any insulin you would be considered to have type 1 diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes, your body may not make enough insulin or your body doesn't use the insulin correctly. People with type 1 diabetes will need insulin immediately, while people with type 2 may not need insulin for many years.
Basal Insulin
There are a number of types of insulins available. Some are used at meal times while others, such as Lantus, are used either in the morning or at night, or both, and last for a long time. Lantus insulin is considered a basal, or background, insulin because it can work for up to 24 hours continuously. Lantus insulin requires one injection per day because it does not have a true peak, whereas rapid-acting insulin peaks with the food you eat and is required at each meal.
Treatment with Lantus
If you have type 1 diabetes, you may be put on Lantus insulin as your basal insulin along with meal time injections. If you have type 2 diabetes, you may just need one shot of Lantus per day to bring your blood sugars into adequate control. Lantus should be taken at the same time each day to prevent overlap and risk of low blood sugars. If you are highly insulin resistant, you may need two injections of Lantus because too large of a dose at one time may not work as well. Your doctor can tell you how many units of insulin you should give yourself to maintain good blood sugar control.
Injecting Lantus
Lantus insulin comes in two forms. One form is the vial and syringe. This form requires you to draw insulin out of the vial using the syringe and then injecting this into the appropriate area on the body. The other way that Lantus is given is through the SoloSTAR insulin pen. The insulin pen is a pre-filled pen that requires you to dial up the number of units that you need and then inject. Each time you turn the dial, you hear a click, indicating another unit of insulin. It is compact, easy to carry, and is nice for people who are visually impaired or those that are not able to use the syringe and vial without difficulty.
Lantus Uses
Lantus insulin can help to bring down fasting blood sugars and pre-meal blood sugars throughout the day. It is important to realize that Lantus insulin is not the only treatment method that is required. Diet and lifestyle changes are necessary to gain optimal control of blood sugars, whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes or are on one shot or four shots per day. With diet, exercise, and Lantus insulin, you may be able to gain optimal control of your diabetes.
