What is Lantus insulin?
Lantus is an injectable insulin medication that is used to treat people with diabetes mellitus. Lantus can be used to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, though it is commonly used in patients with type 1 diabetes. The scientific name of Lantus is insulin glargine. Lantus is a long-acting insulin. Usually, when insulin glargine is injected, it takes several hours before it starts to work in the body and can last up to 24 hours. Long-acting insulin such as insulin glargine is commonly prescribed to cats with diabetes because they have a faster metabolism. This allows the insulin drug to work for a whole 12 hours, which is better than short-acting insulins. On the other hand, insulin glargine has had contradicting reports as to whether it can work just as well for dogs.
How to administer this medication
Lantus should be administered subcutaneously with a syringe. Your veterinarian will show you how to administer insulin glargine safely at home. You should not inject this insulin to your diabetic dog if you don’t understand how to use it. Insulin glargine should not be injected intramuscularly or intravenously. Insulin glargine should not be injected in the same area every day. This medication is supposed to be clear. Do not administer this drug to your dog in case it has changed colors or contains particles inside it.
Storage
Lantus should be stored in its original container under room temperature. Unused Lantus should be kept inside a refrigerator, but should not be frozen. If this medication has frozen, you should throw it away. Your veterinarian will show you how to properly dispose any spoiled or expired medication. Opened vials can be stored in a refrigerator or at room temperature and used within 28 days.
Lantus insulin for dogs
When Lantus is used in diabetic dogs, it is usually combined with a shorter acting insulin such as Humulin R and Novolog. This is because diabetic dogs require 2 injections of insulin every day. Controlling blood glucose in diabetic dogs is vital because it can help prevent the risk of contracting serious health complications.
When insulin glargine is administered to diabetic dogs, it works by helping glucose enter the cells, so it can be turned into energy. This helps to lower high amounts of blood glucose. It is recommended you start Lantus at a dose of 0.3 units per kg of body weight, which should be administered twice daily. In case this dose does not work effectively, your veterinarian may gradually increase the dose.
