Living with insulin
As you learn more about living with insulin, you may become more comfortable with the idea, just like Michelle and Tony. Watch this short video to get ideas about fitting long-acting insulin into your routine by seeing someone else do it. Watching this video might also help clear up some questions you may have along the way.
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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.
BASAGLAR basics
Here’s information that could help you understand BASAGLAR as well as the changes that may happen to your blood sugar while you’re using long-acting insulin.
IT'S TAKEN ONLY ONCE A DAY
BASAGLAR works over 24 hours to lower your blood sugar. Take BASAGLAR once a day at a time that works best for you, as long as it’s at the same time each day.
IT COMES IN A KWIKPEN®
The BASAGLAR KwikPen is a disposable, single-patient-use prefilled insulin pen that you can carry with you if you need to give yourself a dose when you’re away from home.
Do not reuse needles or share your BASAGLAR KwikPen® with other people. You or the other person can get a serious infection. This can happen even if you change the needle.
IT SHOULD BE STORED ACCORDING TO THESE RULES
Before using your KwikPen:
- Store unused Pens in the refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C)
- Do not freeze BASAGLAR. Do not use if it has been frozen
- Unused Pens may be used until the expiration date printed on the label if the Pen has been kept in the refrigerator
After first using your KwikPen:
- Store the Pen you are currently using at room temperature (up to 86°F [30°C]) and away from heat and light
- Throw away the Pen you are using after 28 days, even if it still has insulin left in it
IT COMES WITH SUPPORT
The BASAGLAR Savings Card offers support that may help you cover the cost of treatment.
Our many resources focus on the unique needs of people who are starting insulin.
Lilly Diabetes Solution Center - If you need help paying for your BASAGLAR prescription or diabetes care, call the Lilly Diabetes Solution Center at 1-833-808-1234.
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Warnings
Basaglar may cause serious side effects that can lead to death such as:
- Heart failure. Taking diabetes pills called thiazolidinediones (thIE-uh-zOH-li-dEEn-dIE-OHns) or “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, or sudden weight gain. Your doctor may need to change or stop treatment with TZDs and Basaglar.
What to expect: changes in your blood sugar level
BASAGLAR works over 24 hours to lower your blood sugar. As with all insulin medications, the length of time Basaglar works to lower blood sugar may not be the same for every person and may not be the same each time you use BASAGLAR.
Many factors can influence your blood sugar, such as food you’ve recently eaten, level of physical activity, injection site, or other medications you are taking.
Talk with your doctor about what to expect
Ask your doctor what your blood sugar range should be and when you should check your blood sugar levels throughout the day. Checking your blood sugar can tell you if your blood sugar levels are in a healthy range.
In addition to frequent blood sugar checking, your doctor can look at your average levels of blood sugar over approximately 3 months with an A1C blood test, the primary test used for diabetes management.1 Guidelines recommend that A1C levels be measured approximately 4 times a year.2
Read more about monitoring blood sugar levels.
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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.