Basaglar U-100 Pen Supply Calculation for 10 Units Daily
Each Basaglar U-100 pen contains 300 units, so at 10 units daily, one pen will last 30 days—you need approximately 1 pen per month.
Pen Contents and Duration
Basaglar U-100 is available as prefilled pens (both KwikPen and Tempo Pen formats) containing 3 mL of insulin at 100 units/mL concentration, providing 300 total units per pen 1.
At a dose of 10 units once daily:
- 300 units ÷ 10 units/day = 30 days per pen
- For a 90-day supply: 3 pens
- For a 30-day supply: 1 pen
Important Dosing Context
The 10 units daily dose aligns with standard basal insulin initiation recommendations. For type 2 diabetes, guidelines recommend starting basal insulin at 0.2 units/kg or up to 10 units once daily 2, 3, 1. This is a safe, conservative starting dose that can be titrated upward by 10-15% or 2-4 units once or twice weekly until fasting glucose targets are met 2.
Pen Specifications
- Maximum single injection: 80 units per injection 1
- Dose increments: 1 unit 1
- Once-daily administration: Same time each day 1
- In-use storage: Room temperature up to 86°F (30°C) for 28 days after first use 1
Critical Disposal Timing
Discard each pen 28 days after first use, even if insulin remains 1. This means:
- If using exactly 10 units daily, you'll use 280 units over 28 days
- The remaining 20 units must be discarded for safety
- You'll need a new pen every 28 days, not every 30 days
Practical Prescribing
For a standard 90-day prescription at 10 units daily:
- Prescribe: 4 pens (accounting for the 28-day disposal requirement)
- This provides adequate supply with one spare pen for the 28-day disposal rule
The cost consideration is relevant—Basaglar follow-on products have median costs of approximately $118-151 per 1,000 units for U-100 prefilled pens 3, making it one of the more affordable long-acting insulin options compared to other glargine products.