Insulin Glargine

Indications & Dose:

INDICATIONS: Diabetes mellitus, where treatment with insulin-is required.

DOSAGE: Once daily every evening. The physician will adjust the dosage individually, and will also give guidance on where to inject, when blood sugar measurements are to be performed and whether urine tests are necessary. The physician may prescribe either with a short-acting insulin or an oral antidiabetic.

For further assistance see literature. 

Contraindications:

Hypersensitivity to insulin glargine or to any of the excipients. 

Side Effects:

Cautions:

Beta blockers may mask signs   & symptoms of hypoglycemia while intensifying the hypoglycemic effects. Dosage requirment may vary during infection, pregnancy, emotional distress & the  type of insulin. 

Precautions:

 Patients must follow a prescribed diet and exercise regularly.

Interaction:

Drugs

• An increase in the blood-sugar-lowering effect and in susceptibility to hypoglycaemia may occur. Oral antidiabetics, ACE inhibitors, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, MAO inhibitors, pentoxifylline, propoxyphene, salicylates, or sulfonamide antibiotics.

• A decrease in the blood-sugar-lowering effect may occur in concomitant use. Corticosteroids, danazol, diazoxide, diuretics, glucagon, isoniazid, oestrogens and progestogens (e.g. in oral contraceptives), phenothiazine derivatives, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents such as [epinephrine (adrenaline), salbutamol, terbutaline], or thyroid hormones.

• Beta-blockers, clonidine, lithium salts or alcohol may either potentiate or weaken the blood-sugarlowering effect of insulin. Pentamidine may cause hypoglycaemia, sometimes followed by hyperglycaemia. Moreover, beta-blockers, in common with other sympatholytic medicines (e.g., clonidine, guanethidine, reserpine) may weaken or even suppress entirely the warning symptoms of a hypoglycaemic reaction.

Warnings:

Adverse Effects:

Lactations:

Women with pre-existing or gestational diabetes must maintain good metabolic control during pregnancy. In the first three months, insulin requirements may decrease and generally increase during the second and third trimesters. Immediately after delivery, insulin requirements then decrease again rapidly (increased risk of hypoglycaemia). Therefore, careful blood sugar monitoring is essential if you are pregnant or are planning pregnancy, please inform your physician. Adjustments in dosage and diet may be necessary in breast-feeding women

Special Precautions:

Counselling:

Side Effects Or Adverse Reactions:

SKIN: Flushing, rash, urticaria, warmth, lipodystrophy, lipohypertrophy
META: Hypoglycemia, decreased K, Ca, PO4, Mg

Patient And Carer Advice: