Information on Pros & Cons of Lantus

Lantus is the brand name for insulin glargine and is manufactured by Sanofi-aventis. It is used to help control blood glucose levels.

Age

• One advantage of Lantus is that it can be used for adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes. However, it is only approved for use by children over age 6 with type 1 diabetes and not for children with type 2, according to Sanofi-aventis.

Action

• Lantus is a long-acting insulin designed for one injection every 24 hours and helps stabilize blood sugar levels for 18 to 24 hours.

Gap

• Fast-acting insulin may be needed to counter carb intake.

  According to the Diabetes Network, one disadvantage of Lantus is that diabetics need to take fast-acting insulin to counter carbohydrate intake at meals.

Mixing

• You cannot mix Lantus with other insulin or use it in a syringe that has been used with other types of insulin.

Response

• According to the Diabetes Network, most people using Lantus maintain consistent blood sugar levels.

Side Effects

• Lantus may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and injection site or allergic reactions. Four studies indicate Lantus may be related to cancer; however, on July 1, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration recommended that patients continue to use Lantus and that further research be conducted to research flaws in those studies.