Insulin Injecting Tips
Giving yourself an injection isn’t really that difficult. But it does take practice.
Your doctor or a member of your healthcare team will show you how.
First thing, you need to know where to inject insulin. LANTUS® insulin should be injected into
the less-sensitive layer of fatty tissue just under the skin. LANTUS® should not be injected into
the muscle and should avoid moles or scars.
The three sites to inject LANTUS® are:
- The abdomen (a), except for a two-inch circle around the navel.
- The top and outer thighs (b) Avoid injecting too close to the bony area above
the knee.
- The outer, upper arms (c) Use the outer back area of the upper arm where
there is fatty tissue.
With LANTUS®, insulin injection sites may be rotated between these three areas
because the rate of absorption for LANTUS® is similar for all three.
Remember that injection sites within those areas must be different from one insulin injection
to the next. And rotate your injection sites as instructed by your doctor.
Important Safety Information for Lantus®
Do not take Lantus® if you are allergic to insulin or any of the inactive ingredients
in Lantus®.
You must test your blood sugar levels while using insulin, such as Lantus®.
Do not make any changes to your dose or type of insulin without talking to your
healthcare provider. Any change of insulin should be made cautiously and only under
medical supervision.
Do NOT dilute or mix Lantus® with any other insulin or solution.
It will not work as intended and you may lose blood sugar control, which could be
serious. Lantus® must only be used if the solution is clear and colorless with
no particles visible. Do not share needles, insulin pens or syringes with others.
The most common side effect of insulin, including Lantus®, is low blood
sugar (hypoglycemia), which may be serious. Some people may experience
symptoms such as shaking, sweating, fast heartbeat, and blurred vision. Severe hypoglycemia
may be serious and life threatening. It may cause harm to your heart or brain. Other
possible side effects may include injection site reactions, including changes in
fat tissue at the injection site, and allergic reactions, including itching and
rash. In rare cases, some allergic reactions may be life threatening.
Tell your doctor about other medicines and supplements you are taking because they
can change the way insulin works. Before starting Lantus®, tell your doctor
about all your medical conditions including if you have liver or kidney problems,
are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding or planning to
breast-feed.
Lantus® SoloSTAR® is a disposable prefilled insulin pen. Please talk to your healthcare
provider about proper injection technique and follow instructions in the Instruction
Leaflet that accompanies the pen.
Click here for full prescribing information for Lantus®.
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