From the Guidelines
Insulin Glargine is a Long-Acting Insulin
Insulin glargine, also known by its brand name Lantus, is indeed considered a long-acting insulin.
- It has a duration of action of approximately 20-24 hours 1, making it suitable for once-daily administration.
- Its peakless action profile reduces the risk of hypoglycemia compared to intermediate-acting insulins like NPH 1.
- Insulin glargine is absorbed more consistently than intermediate-acting insulins, providing a more physiologic basal insulin level 1.
- Clinical trials have demonstrated that long-acting basal analogs like U-100 glargine can reduce the risk of symptomatic and nocturnal hypoglycemia compared to NPH insulin 1.
- The use of insulin glargine as a basal insulin is recommended in various guidelines for the management of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes 1.
From the Research
Insulin Glargine Characteristics
- Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin analogue with a consistent level of plasma insulin over a long duration 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- It has a smooth 24-hour time-action profile with no undesirable pronounced peaks of activity 2, 3, 5
- Insulin glargine is designed to mimic the natural physiological profile of basal endogenous insulin secretion more closely than traditional extended-acting insulins such as NPH insulin 4, 5
Clinical Trials and Efficacy
- Clinical trials have shown that insulin glargine has at least equivalent, if not better, glycemic control than other traditional basal insulins, with a significantly lower rate of overall and nocturnal hypoglycemia 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Insulin glargine has been associated with improved pre-breakfast blood glucose levels and reduced nocturnal hypoglycemia compared to NPH insulin 4, 5
- Patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes have reported higher levels of treatment satisfaction when treated with insulin glargine compared to NPH insulin 5, 6
Administration and Usage
- Insulin glargine is typically administered as a single daily dose, usually at bedtime, but can be given in the morning or at any other time convenient for the patient 3, 5, 6
- It is often used in combination with short-acting insulin analogues in patients with type 1 diabetes, and can be added to oral hypoglycemic agents in patients with type 2 diabetes where these agents are failing 5, 6