BASAGLAR® (insulin glargine) injection 100 units/mL is a once-daily injection. Turn your daily injections into an everyday routine at the same time, every day
There are ways to add your type 2 diabetes treatment to your life, and here you’ll find tips, information, and resources to help you.
SELECT SAFETY INFORMATION
Warnings
Do not take Basaglar if you have:
- symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) or
- an allergy to Basaglar or any of its ingredients.
Many people have questions and concerns about how and where to inject insulin. Below we list some resources designed to help you learn how to use the BASAGLAR KwikPen, step by step.
Read the Instructions for Use before you start using BASAGLAR and each time you get another BASAGLAR KwikPen®. There may be new information.
You can also watch a patient story in which the patient talks about overcoming his reluctance to self-inject.
Access the step-by-step Injection Instruction Video here:
Insulin Injection Sites
BASAGLAR is injected under the skin of your stomach area, buttocks, upper legs, or upper arms. Just be sure to use a different site each time you inject. Do not use BASAGLAR in an insulin pump or inject BASAGLAR into your vein.
SELECT SAFETY INFORMATION
Warnings
Do not change the insulin you use or your dose, unless your doctor tells you to. This could cause low or high blood sugar, which could be serious. Do not inject your insulin into the exact same spot or where the skin has pit or lumps. Avoid injecting into thickened, tender, bruised, scaly, hard, or damaged skin.
Basaglar may cause serious side effects that can lead to death such as:
- Low blood sugar. This can lead to:
- dizziness or light-headedness
- sweating
- confusion
- headache
- blurred vision
- slurred speech
- shakiness
- fast heartbeat
- anxiety
- irritability
- mood change
- hunger
Always refer to the full Instructions for Use before you start using BASAGLAR and each time you get another KwikPen.
Monitoring your blood sugar levels
Did you know your blood sugar can be too low as well as too high? Those swings may happen with insulin treatment. Just know that monitoring your blood sugar as directed by your doctor gives you useful information that can help manage your diabetes.1
CHANGES ARE NORMAL
Things like stress, your diet, other medications, exercise, and more can affect your blood sugar. This is completely normal. Ask your healthcare provider how often you should test your blood sugar and what it should be. That’s a sure way to keep an eye on your levels and adjust as needed based on your doctor’s advice.
STAY ALERT FOR LOW BLOOD SUGAR
The most common side effect of insulins, including BASAGLAR, is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which may become serious and cause seizures or death. It’s important to know the symptoms of low blood sugar, so if it does happen, you’re ready to treat it immediately. Always remember that blood sugar below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) is too low.
SELECT SAFETY INFORMATION
Warning
Basaglar may cause serious side effects that can lead to death such as:
- Severe allergic reaction.
Get emergency help right away if you have:- a rash over your whole body
- trouble breathing
- a fast heartbeat
- swelling of your face, tongue, or throat
- sweating
- shortness of breath
- extreme drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion
POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF LOW BLOOD SUGAR
Low blood sugar symptoms can include:
- Hunger
- Shaking
- Irritability
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Seizures
- Slurred speech
- Sweating
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Fast heartbeat
- Mood change
- Unconsciousness
Below is a handy rule of thumb for treating low blood sugar, but make sure to treat low blood sugar like your healthcare provider told you.
LIVE BY THE 15/15 RULE TREATMENT
The 15-15 rule—have 15 grams of carbohydrate to raise your blood sugar and check it after 15 minutes. If it’s still below 70 mg/dL, have another serving.
Repeat these steps until your blood sugar is at least 70 mg/dL. Once your blood sugar is back to normal, eat a meal or snack to make sure it doesn’t lower again.
This may be:
- Glucose tablets (see instructions)
- Gel tube (see instructions)
- 4 ounces (1/2 cup) of juice or regular soda (not diet)
- 1 tablespoon of sugar, honey, or corn syrup
- Hard candies, jellybeans, or gumdrops—see food label for how many to consume
Make a note about any episodes of low blood sugar and talk with your health care team about why it happened. They can suggest ways to avoid low blood sugar in the future.
Many people tend to want to eat as much as they can until they feel better. This can cause blood sugar levels to shoot way up. Using the step-wise approach of the "15-15 Rule" can help you avoid this, preventing high blood sugar levels.
Talk to your doctor about low blood sugar and how to manage it.
SELECT SAFETY INFORMATION
Warning
Basaglar may cause serious side effects that can lead to death such as:
- Low potassium in your blood. This can lead to severe breathing problems, irregular heartbeat, and death.
Are you changing to BASAGLAR from Lantus® (insulin glargine injection) 100 units/mL?
If you’re familiar with Lantus, here are some things you should know about BASAGLAR:
In a 24-week study, BASAGLAR worked as well as Lantus (approved in the US and outside the US) at lowering blood sugar.
Your dose should be the same when changing from Lantus to BASAGLAR. Always check with your healthcare provider to confirm your dose.
BASAGLAR is taken once a day at the same time each day, whenever is most convenient for you.
BASAGLAR works over 24 hours to lower your blood sugar.
Tips to help make a routine for taking BASAGLAR
It's not always easy to form new habits. You may feel that using insulin will take over your life, but it doesn't have to. You’ve come to the right place to learn a few pointers to get started.
BASAGLAR MUST BE INJECTED ONCE A DAY AT THE SAME TIME EVERY DAY. Here are some tips that may help you turn your daily insulin injection into part of your everyday routine.
PAIR IT UP
Connect your injection to another part of your daily routine like brushing your teeth before bed.
REWARD YOURSELF
Pick something you enjoy—such as doing a favorite activity or spending quality time with family—to reward yourself after each injection.
SELECT SAFETY INFORMATION
Warning
Do not reuse needles or share your Basaglar prefilled pen with other people. You or the other person can get a serious infection. This can happen even if you change the needle.
STAY ORGANIZED
Keep all your supplies together where you can see them. They should be easy to get to but out of the reach of children. And make sure you always have an extra insulin Pen in the fridge in case yours is lost or damaged.
REMINDERS
Set an alarm on your cell phone, write yourself notes, or ask a friend or family member to remind you about injecting at the same time each day.
Storage tips
Stay sharp. Put all of your used needles in a sharps container, not the trash.
Stay cool.
- Before insulin use: When you get your unused Pens, your insulin should be refrigerated at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). Don't freeze your Pen or use it if it's been frozen.
- After insulin use: Store your opened Pen at room temperature up to 86°F (30°C) and throw it away after 28 days.
Stay supplied. Always be prepared. Keep plenty of needles, test strips, lancets, and alcohol swabs handy for insulin injections.
SELECT SAFETY INFORMATION
Warning
Do not change the insulin you use or your dose, unless your doctor tells you to. This could cause low or high blood sugar, which could be serious. Do not inject your insulin into the exact same spot or where the skin has pit or lumps. Avoid injecting into thickened, tender, bruised, scaly, hard, or damaged skin.
See support and savings information for BASAGLAR, including information about the Savings Card for eligible patients with commercial insurance.*
*Offer good until 12/31/2022 for up to 24 fills. Patient must have commercial drug insurance with insurance provider coverage for BASAGLAR to pay as little as $25 for a 30-day supply of BASAGLAR. Offer subject to a monthly cap of $100 and a separate annual cap of $1200. Offer void where prohibited by law. Patient is responsible for any applicable taxes, fees, or amounts exceeding monthly or annual caps. This offer is invalid for patients without commercial drug insurance or whose prescription claims for BASAGLAR are eligible to be reimbursed, in whole or in part, by any governmental program, including, without limitation, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Part D, Medigap, DoD, VA, TRICARE®/CHAMPUS, or any state patient or pharmaceutical assistance program. Offer void where prohibited by law and subject to change or discontinue without notice. Card activation is required. Subject to additional terms and conditions, which can be found here.
References:
- American Diabetes Association. Blood Sugar Testing and Control. https:/www.diabetes.org/diabetes/medication-management/blood-glucose-testing-and-control. Accessed October 8, 2020.
PURPOSE AND SAFETY SUMMARY
Important Facts About BASAGLAR® (bāz-a-glar). It is also known as insulin glargine injection.
BASAGLAR is a long-acting insulin that is only available with a prescription. It is used to control high blood sugar in:
- adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- children with type 1 diabetes
It is not known if BASAGLAR is safe and effective in children with type 2 diabetes or in children younger than 6 years with type 1 diabetes. There were no studies done with BASAGLAR in these groups of children. If your doctor decides to give your child BASAGLAR, he or she may give you special instructions.
BASAGLAR is not used to treat diabetic ketoacidosis.
Warnings
Do not take BASAGLAR if you have:
- symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- an allergy to BASAGLAR or any of its ingredients
Do not reuse needles or share your BASAGLAR prefilled pen with other people. You or the other person can get a serious infection. This can happen even if you change the needle.
Do not change the insulin you use or your dose, unless your doctor tells you to. This could cause low or high blood sugar, which could be serious.
BASAGLAR may cause serious side effects. Some of these can lead to death. The possible serious side effects of BASAGLAR are:
- Low blood sugar. This can lead to:
- dizziness or light-headedness
- sweating
- confusion
- headache
- blurred vision
- slurred speech
- shakiness
- fast heartbeat
- anxiety
- irritability
- mood change
- hunger
- Severe allergic reaction.
Get emergency help right away if you have:- a rash over your whole body
- trouble breathing
- a fast heartbeat
- swelling of your face, tongue, or throat
- sweating
- shortness of breath
- extreme drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion
- Low potassium in your blood. This can lead to severe breathing problems, irregular heartbeat, and death.
- Heart failure. Taking diabetes pills called thiazolidinediones /thIE-uh-zOH-li-dEEn-dIE-OHns/ (TZDs) with BASAGLAR may cause heart failure in some people. This includes people who do not have any heart problems. If you have heart failure, it may get worse if you take TZDs with BASAGLAR. Tell your doctor if you have any new symptoms of heart failure, or if they get worse. These are: shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles or feet, and sudden weight gain. Your doctor may need to change or stop treatment with TZDs and BASAGLAR.
Common side effects
The most common side effects of BASAGLAR are:
- low blood sugar
- allergic reactions
- minor reactions where you have injected BASAGLAR
- changes in fat tissue where you have injected BASAGLAR
- itching
- rash
- swelling
- weight gain
These are not all of the possible side effects. Tell your doctor if you have any side effects. You can report side effects at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Before using
Talk with your doctor about low blood sugar and how to manage it. Tell your doctor:
- about all of the medicines you take, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
- about any other prescription medicines you take, especially ones called TZDs.
- about all of your medical conditions, including if you have heart failure or other heart, liver, or kidney problems. If you have heart failure, it may get worse while you take TZDs with BASAGLAR.
- if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BASAGLAR may harm your unborn or breastfeeding baby.
How to take
The BASAGLAR prefilled pen is a disposable insulin delivery device for use by a single patient to inject BASAGLAR. Read the Instructions for Use that come with your BASAGLAR prefilled pen. These instructions provide details on how to prepare and inject a dose of BASAGLAR, and how to throw away used BASAGLAR prefilled pens and needles.
Be sure to check your blood sugar levels and use BASAGLAR exactly as your doctor tells you to. Your doctor may tell you to change your dose because of illness, increased stress, or changes in your weight, diet, or level of physical activity or exercise. He or she may also tell you to change your dose because of other medicines you take.
Before injecting your BASAGLAR
You can inject BASAGLAR yourself, or you can have a trained caregiver inject it for you. Make sure you or your caregiver:
- Check your insulin label each time you give your injection. This will help you make sure that you are using the correct insulin.
- Use a new needle for each injection. You can get a serious infection or the wrong dose of insulin if you re-use needles.
When you are ready to inject
- Take BASAGLAR once a day, at the same time each day.
- Change (rotate) where you inject your insulin with each dose. This can help reduce your chance of getting pits, lumps, or thickened skin where you inject your insulin. Do not inject your insulin into the exact same spot or where the skin has pits or lumps. Avoid injecting into thickened, tender, bruised, scaly, hard, scarred, or damaged skin.
Staying safe while taking your BASAGLAR
To stay safe while taking BASAGLAR, be sure you only use BASAGLAR that is clear and colorless and does not have any particles.
Be sure you do not:
- mix BASAGLAR with any other type of insulin or solution.
- drive or use heavy machinery until you know how BASAGLAR affects you.
- drink alcohol or use other medicines that contain alcohol when taking BASAGLAR.
Learn more
For more information, call 1-800-545-5979 or go to BASAGLAR.com.
This summary provides basic information about BASAGLAR but does not include all information known about this medicine. Read the information that comes with your prescription each time your prescription is filled. This information does not take the place of talking with your doctor. Be sure to talk to your doctor or other health care provider about BASAGLAR and how to take it. Your doctor is the best person to help you decide if BASAGLAR is right for you.
BASAGLAR® is a registered trademark owned or licensed by Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates.
BV CON BS 25NOV2019
For more information, please see Full Prescribing Information, Patient Information and Instructions for Use.