Insulin glargine
Prescription status is set country by country — the label where you live is the one that applies.
Beta: the medication section is still being tested, and its data may contain errors. Do not rely on it for a decision about your own treatment.
Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin analogue, a manufactured version of the hormone the pancreas normally releases between meals. It forms a depot under the skin from which insulin is absorbed slowly and evenly, covering background insulin needs across the day rather than the rise that follows a meal. It is used in diabetes, alone or alongside a faster insulin or tablets.
A usual adult range, not a national label — the dose and the timing differ by country and by product.
Approved uses differ by country — some of these may be off-label or unapproved where you live.
It is an injection, and the background cover it provides continues whether or not food is eaten, which is why a skipped meal can drop blood sugar too far. Unopened supplies belong in the fridge; heat degrades insulin and makes its effect unpredictable. Beta-blockers such as bisoprolol and metoprolol blunt the tremor and pounding heartbeat that usually announce a low, so a low can arrive with fewer signals. Glucose and HbA1c track how well the background dose fits, and insulin also drives potassium into cells, so potassium is watched.
Repeated lows, lows without warning symptoms, or a low severe enough to cause confusion or need another person's help mean the regimen no longer fits and a doctor should review it. Persistently high readings, or illness that makes eating impossible, also need medical advice rather than guesswork.
Reference information, not medical advice. Discuss any change with your doctor.