Lantus® Regimens
| Author: Judy Kohn, RN, BSN, CDE |
| Last Updated: Monday, February 13, 2006 |
Q: "I have started taking Lantus once every morning. It has been a tremendous help. I take rapid-acting insulin before meals (3 times/day). If I miss a meal my glucose is roughly 4 mmol/L (approx. 72 mg/dL). Would it be possible to adjust to taking Lantus only, with another type of insulin only once a day? My blood tests for everything--protein, cholesterol, kidney etc.-- are fine. I am searching for just a little distance with this disease. I don’t want it to be my best friend."
A: Because each situation is so individual, your question is one you need to discuss with your diabetes team. You did not mention if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and your diabetes type is a very important consideration when your doctor decides what insulin regimen is best for you. You said your blood tests are all fine, but you did not mention your A1C test that measures your overall diabetes control for the past 2-3 months.
If you have type 2 diabetes: Some people with type 2 diabetes use Lantus once a day with a rapid-acting oral agent from the meglitinide category with each meal.
If you have type 1 diabetes: It is unlikely that you could reduce the number of injections/day while using Lantus, since Lantus provides the background-or basal-dose, while your rapid-acting insulin is needed to handle each meal. Another option is to learn about insulin pumps as a possible alternative. I know this does not sound like giving you "a little distance from your disease" yet many people prefer an insulin pump rather than inject insulin each day.
There are a variety of options for insulin regimens, but it often it takes some trial and error and frequent contact with a diabetes team to determine what is best for you. I do hope you have access to an endocrinologist and diabetes educator to help you sort this all out.
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Related Links
Diabetes Self-Management
http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com
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http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com
Important Notice: The responses provided by the team of Diabetes Educators are based on their personal experiences and expertise as practicing diabetes healthcare professionals, and are not to be considered diabetes management advice from Abbott Laboratories. Remember that information provided by the team of Diabetes Educators is for general background purposes and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by a trained professional. You should always consult your physician about any healthcare questions you may have, especially before trying a new medication, diet, fitness program, or approach to healthcare issues.
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