Lantus (insulin glargine) is a long-lasting synthetic form of the hormone marketed by Sanofi-Aventis, releasing a 24-hour dose through one injection a day. Lantus and diabetes tablets may be used in conjunction when oral medications are insufficient. Lantus is designed for individuals suffering from both types of diabetes and has been approved for children six years of age and older. The most commonly reported side effect is hypoglycemia. Lantus is injected under the skin using an injection pen that contains 300 units of insulin, delivering 80 units per shot. Because it is analog insulin, the release into the body is controlled with no peak. This reduces the risk of nighttime hypoglycemia in comparison with neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin (Humulin N, Novolin N, etc.). Another study confirmed that for type 1 diabetes Lantus was a better basal insulin than NPH when used as a basal-bolus treatment plan.
Lantus and Diabets – Starting On Lantus
Before beginning to take Lantus patients should be aware of the side effects and the proper administration of the drug. Drinking alcohol with Lantus can lead to hypoglycemia and should be done with caution. Additionally, the following drugs are among those that can affect Lantus: albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin), clonidine (Catapres), reserpine, and any beta-blocker. It is inconclusive whether Lantus poses a risk to a fetus. Insulin has been found to cross the placenta in small amounts and has been found in breast milk. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, properly weighing the risk to your baby.
Lantus and Diabetes – Increased Cancer Risk?
There may a link between Lantus and increased risk of cancer comes from four observational studies published in Diabetologia. In three of those studies Lantus was shown to increase risk of cancer however, in a statement released by the FDA in January 2011, the results were found to be inconclusive due to limitations in the study and the data available. The FDA reviewed another study on Lantus investigating retinopathy in subjects treated with oral tablets and insulin. The five-year randomized trial found that there was no increased risk of cancer in the Lantus patients (it should be noted that the study was not intended to investigate increased risk of cancer).
In 2010 Sanofi-Aventis presented the findings of a patient-level study measuring the effectiveness of Lantus against forms of insulin, finding that Lantus reduced A1C levels overall, causing a lower incidence of hypoglycemia. In another study, when Lantus was combined with oral diabetes tablets it was found to lower A1C overall and have a lower incidence of hypoglycemia than when patients paired two OADs. The most effective pairing was with metformin.
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