🔹 Insulin Glargine Injection 100 IU/mL – As Licensed
📄 Description:
Insulin Glargine is a long-acting recombinant human insulin analogue, used to provide basal (background) insulin coverage. It is a clear solution given once daily to maintain consistent blood glucose levels in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
💊 Prescription / Use:
- Indications:
- Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (used with short-acting insulin)
- Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (when oral drugs are insufficient)
- Adults, adolescents, and children (≥6 years)
- Form & Strength:
- Injection: 100 IU/mL
- Available as 10 mL vials, 3 mL cartridges, or pre-filled pens (SoloStar)
- Route:
- Subcutaneous only (SC)
- Not for IV or IM use
- Dosing:
- Once daily, same time every day
- Individualized based on patient’s glucose profile
🔬 Nature:
- Recombinant DNA insulin analogue
- Modified to form microprecipitates in subcutaneous tissue → slow, steady absorption
- Clear, colorless solution (unlike NPH, which is cloudy)
- Onset: ~1.5 hours
- No pronounced peak
- Duration: ~24 hours (can vary 20–30 hrs)
🌟 Advantages:
- Once-daily dosing simplifies regimen
- Mimics natural basal insulin more closely
- Stable glucose levels with minimal fluctuations
- Lower risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia
- Useful in intensive insulin therapy
📦 Common Packaging:
- 3 mL prefilled pens (SoloStar, Basaglar, Lantus, etc.)
- 10 mL vial (1000 IU total) for use with insulin syringes
- Clearly labeled with:
- Drug name: Insulin Glargine 100 IU/mL
- Strength, expiry, storage info, batch number
🧊 Storage:
- Store refrigerated at 2°C–8°C
- Do not freeze
- After opening:
- Can be stored at room temperature <25°C for up to 28 days
- Keep away from direct sunlight and heat
⚠️ Precautions:
- Do NOT mix with other insulins (destroys long-acting properties)
- Do NOT administer IV (risk of hypoglycemia)
- Monitor for hypoglycemia, especially during dose adjustments
- Use correct technique with pen or syringe
- Rotate injection sites to prevent lipodystrophy
👩⚕️ Patient Advice:
- Inject once daily, same time each day
- Use new needle each time with pen or syringe
- Do not skip meals or delay after insulin injection
- Watch for symptoms of low blood sugar (sweating, dizziness, confusion)
- Carry a sugar source (like glucose tablets or candy)
- Keep insulin pen/cap closed when not in use
- Discard opened vials or pens after 28 days, even if insulin remains