Insulin Glargine
Prescription ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Insulin glargine is an FDA-approved long-acting basal insulin peptide/protein hormone analog used for glycemic control in diabetes. This app supports FDA-approved prescription insulin glargine products only, such as Lantus, Basaglar, Toujeo, and Semglee when selected by the prescriber; non-prescribed, compounded, research-use, or product-substitution use is unsupported.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.
This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Insulin glargine is an FDA-approved long-acting basal insulin peptide/protein hormone analog used for glycemic control in diabetes. NutriStack rates the supporting evidence as strong. Common adult dosing is Individualized prescription dosing only; insulin dose, product strength, and switching plan must be set by the diabetes prescriber using glucose monitoring and clinical context., though a prescriber sets the actual dose. This profile indexes 15 sources.
The bottom line
Evidence rating strong. Most-documented uses: provides ~24-hour basal insulin coverage, relatively peakless profile reduces nocturnal hypoglycemia vs nph, lowers fasting blood glucose effectively. 15 sources indexed (2003–2026), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
A recombinant human insulin analogue where asparagine at position A21 is replaced by glycine and two arginines are added to the C-terminus of the B-chain. These modifications shift the isoelectric point, causing the molecule to precipitate at the neutral pH of subcutaneous tissue, forming a depot that slowly dissolves and releases insulin monomers. The released insulin binds to insulin receptors, promoting cellular glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis, and protein synthesis while inhibiting hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipolysis.4,5
Dosing & protocol.
Inject subcutaneously at the same time each day as prescribed. Rotate injection sites. Do not mix, dilute, administer intravenously, or use in a pump. Product and strength switches require clinician-directed monitoring.
Full safety detail.
Side effects
- Hypoglycemia (most significant risk)
- Weight gain
- Injection site reactions (lipodystrophy, pain, redness)
- Peripheral edema (early treatment)
- Allergic reactions (rare)
- Hypokalemia
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Meta-analyses & systematic reviews
5- 1[Systematic review with meta-analysis: Subcutaneous insulin glargine coadministration for diabetic ketoacidosis]Source linkedPMIDAndrade-Castellanos CA, Colunga-Lozano LE · Gaceta medica de Mexico · 2016
Andrade-Castellanos CA, Colunga-Lozano LE. [Systematic review with meta-analysis: Subcutaneous insulin glargine coadministration for diabetic ketoacidosis]. Gaceta medica de Mexico. 2016
- 2Safety of insulin glargine use in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysisSource linkedPMIDPollex E, Moretti ME, Koren G et al. · The Annals of pharmacotherapy · 2011
Pollex E, Moretti ME, Koren G et al.. Safety of insulin glargine use in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Annals of pharmacotherapy. 2011
- 3[Insulin glargine--a systematic review of clinical studies. No documented advantages with Lantus compared to NPH insulin]Source linkedPMIDBjörck Linné A, Liedholm H · Lakartidningen · 2004
Björck Linné A, Liedholm H. [Insulin glargine--a systematic review of clinical studies. No documented advantages with Lantus compared to NPH insulin]. Lakartidningen. 2004
- 4Systematic review and economic evaluation of a long-acting insulin analogue, insulin glargineSource linkedPMIDWarren E, Weatherley-Jones E, Chilcott J et al. · Health technology assessment (Winchester, England) · 2004
Warren E, Weatherley-Jones E, Chilcott J et al.. Systematic review and economic evaluation of a long-acting insulin analogue, insulin glargine. Health technology assessment (Winchester, England). 2004
- 5Insulin glargine: a systematic review of a long-acting insulin analogueSource linkedPMIDWang F, Carabino JM, Vergara CM · Clinical therapeutics · 2003
Wang F, Carabino JM, Vergara CM. Insulin glargine: a systematic review of a long-acting insulin analogue. Clinical therapeutics. 2003
Reference material
10- 6LANTUS SOLOSTAR (insulin glargine) injection, solution: prescribing informationSource linkedURLU.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed · Official prescribing information and FDA drug safety communication · 2026
Label includes hypoglycemia and hypersensitivity contraindications plus warnings for pen sharing, regimen changes, medication errors, hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, hypersensitivity, TZD-related heart failure, and pregnancy risk language.
- 7BASAGLAR (insulin glargine) injection: prescribing informationSource linkedURLU.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed · Official prescribing information and FDA drug safety communication · 2026
Label covers U-100 basal insulin glargine administration, no mixing/dilution, injection-site rotation, hypoglycemia, medication errors, hypokalemia, pen sharing, and glucose monitoring during conversion.
- 8TOUJEO (insulin glargine) injection, solution: prescribing informationSource linkedURLU.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed · Official prescribing information and FDA drug safety communication · 2026
Label covers U-300 insulin glargine use, product-specific conversion, hypoglycemia, medication errors, hypokalemia, pen sharing, and other insulin-class warnings.
- 9SEMGLEE (insulin glargine-yfgn) injection, solution: prescribing informationSource linkedURLU.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed · Official prescribing information and FDA drug safety communication · 2026
Label identifies Semglee as biosimilar to Lantus and includes insulin glargine contraindications, switching guidance, pen/syringe sharing warnings, hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, and pregnancy risk language.
- 10FDA Insulin safety informationSource linkedURLU.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed · Official prescribing information and FDA drug safety communication · 2026
FDA advises not sharing insulin needles, pens, or cartridges and emphasizes using the correct insulin type and device.
- 11Riddle MC et al. The treat-to-target trial: randomized addition of glargine or human NPH insulin to oral therapy of type 2 diabetic patients. Diabetes Care. 2003;26(11):3080-3086.Source linkedPMID
- 12ORIGIN Trial Investigators. Basal insulin and cardiovascular and other outcomes in dysglycemia (ORIGIN). N Engl J Med. 2012;367(4):319-328.Source linkedPMID
- 13Akmal M et al. Efficacy of once-weekly insulin efsitora versus once-daily basal insulin in type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2026.Source linkedPMID
- 14Joshi SR, Singh G, Marwah A et al.. Comparative clinical efficacy and safety of insulin glargine 300 U/ml (Toujeo) versus insulin glargine 100 U/ml in type 2 diabetes and type 1 diabetes: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Diabetes, obesity & metabolism. 2023Source linkedPMID
- 15Kellerer M, Kaltoft MS, Lawson J et al.. Effect of once-weekly semaglutide versus thrice-daily insulin aspart, both as add-on to metformin and optimized insulin glargine treatment in participants with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN 11): A randomized, open-label, multinational, phase 3b trial. Diabetes, obesity & metabolism. 2022Source linkedPMID
Common questions.
Quick answers about Insulin Glargine, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Insulin Glargine?
Insulin glargine is an FDA-approved long-acting basal insulin peptide/protein hormone analog used for glycemic control in diabetes. This app supports FDA-approved prescription insulin glargine products only, such as Lantus, Basaglar, Toujeo, and Semglee when selected by the prescriber; non-prescribed, compounded, research-use, or product-substitution use is unsupported.
What is Insulin Glargine used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Insulin Glargine include: Provides ~24-hour basal insulin coverage; Relatively peakless profile reduces nocturnal hypoglycemia vs NPH; Lowers fasting blood glucose effectively; Flexible dosing once daily at any consistent time; Biosimilar options available (lower cost). NutriStack rates the overall evidence as strong.
What is a typical dose of Insulin Glargine?
A typical adult dose of Insulin Glargine is Individualized prescription dosing only; insulin dose, product strength, and switching plan must be set by the diabetes prescriber using glucose monitoring and clinical context.. The commonly recommended form is FDA-approved prescription insulin glargine product selected by the prescriber. Do not substitute U-100 and U-300 products, biosimilars, pens, or vials without prescriber/pharmacist direction.. These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Insulin Glargine?
Reported side effects include hypoglycemia (most significant risk), weight gain, injection site reactions (lipodystrophy, pain, redness), peripheral edema (early treatment), allergic reactions (rare), hypokalemia. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Insulin Glargine?
NutriStack rates this as Strong, meaning multiple high-quality meta-analyses or systematic reviews converge on the same finding. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Insulin Glargine in NutriStack.
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