Unlike short-acting insulins, long-acting insulins can maintain blood sugar levels throughout the entire day. This can be likened to the body’s natural insulin production, which helps regulate blood sugar levels during meals.
Long-acting insulins are also referred to as basal or background insulins because they consistently work “in the background” to help manage your blood sugar throughout the day.
Currently, there are several brands of long-acting insulins available:
- Insulin glargine (Lantus) lasts up to 24 hours
- Insulin detemir (Levemir) lasts 18 to 23 hours
- Insulin glargine (Toujeo) lasts more than 24 hours
- Insulin degludec (Tresiba) lasts up to 42 hours
- Insulin glargine (Basaglar) lasts up to 24 hours
Reminder: Even though Lantus and Toujeo are both insulin glargine medications produced by the same manufacturer, you may need to adjust the dose slightly. This is because their formula concentrations differ, affecting how they regulate blood sugar.
How To Take Long-acting Insulin?
To keep blood sugar levels stable, long-acting insulin is typically injected once daily. You can administer the injection using a needle or a pen. It’s important to stick to the same schedule each day when injecting your long-acting insulin.
Your doctor may also recommend short-acting insulin before meals to prevent a blood sugar spike after eating. If you switch brands of long-acting insulin, you might require a different dose. Always consult your doctor if you change the brand of any insulin.
Side Effects
Like any medication, long-acting insulin can have side effects. Here are some potential side effects you should be aware of:
- dizziness
- chills
- blurred vision
- weakness
- headache
- fainting
Other possible side effects at the injection site include:
- pain
- redness
- swelling