Insulin glargine for Type 2 Diabetes User Reviews

• Cur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2019

"I agree with the vast majority of reviews here and elsewhere -- Basaglar is garbage. It doesn't work at all! Before being switched, I was waking up to levels between 80 to 135. Even with drastic increases in dosage, my levels are in the 300s and never come down, even while fasting. This garbage is a placebo -- sugar water. Worthless and dangerous to use. God only knows what kind of damage it's causing diabetics!"

• AEB...
• September 4, 2019

"I was on Lantus, which worked beautifully for me. Like others, I was switched to Basaglar (not my doing). The issue I am having is that my appetite seems to have doubled. In a matter of two months, I went from 188lb to 201lb. I know my diet as a diabetic is a delicate one. I have had no other changes in my meds whatsoever. This has occurred since I started this insulin. I hate it!!! Am I the only one that experienced this issue?"

• Unc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 28, 2018

"Well... Those fools at my insurance company have decided they know more than my doctors about medicating my diabetes type 2. They refused my Lantus script after 5 successful years of controlling my A1C. Insurance denied my doctor's pre-approval request 2 times. Basaglar was their replacement drug of choice, so here we go. So far, about 1 year now, and as of today, NO bad side effects. My A1Cs are about the same as before, and everything appears to be fine? (Knock on wood) I have had a heart attack recently and required 4 stents to get me up again on my feet. My cardio team has reviewed my med list and do not think it has any relation to my using Basaglar as opposed to Lantus. I place my trust in my team and will continue to use Basaglar until I am advised against it by my doctors, have a reaction to it, or my insurance decides there is a cheaper alternative? God help us all who live governed by the decisions of a bunch of insurance underwriters as opposed to the knowledge of our doctors."

• Bob...
• August 16, 2019

"I have had Type 2 diabetes for 20 years. I was on Lantus for most of that time. Blood sugars were so well controlled that I was able to stop Lantus for weeks and stay on oral medications (not Metformin, but Pioglitazone and Sitagliptin). My insurance switched me to Basaglar. At first, it seemed okay. However, in 24 hours, my sugar jumped from under 200 mg% to over 500 mg%. Reading the other patient reports and considering my own experience, I would say it is highly likely that the batches of Basaglar vary in potency. Note that in the online report on this insulin, https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cadth.ca%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fcdr%2Fseb%2FSE0451_Basaglar_SEB_Report.pdf vital information has been redacted. So, you can't view the reports on its purity or stability. This was a money-saving gambit by the manufacturer. As an M.D. with 30 years of treating diabetes, I think this insulin is unreliable."

• LMa...
• October 21, 2018

"I had to change from Lantus to Basaglar due to the insurance company changing the prior authorization status of Lantus. I am very concerned due to the inaccuracy of the Basaglar KwikPen. Sometimes it gives the correct amount I have dialed in, more often, it is lowering the amount I have dialed in. My morning blood sugar is fluctuating greatly because of this. If you are using this KwikPen, be aware it may not be administering the correct dose. I feel there should be an investigation on the quality of the pen."

• ful...
• January 31, 2012

"My doctor prescribed Lantus at an increase of two units every three days until my fasting sugars are at 120 or below. After two months, my readings still range between 250 and 315. I started at 20 units and am now up to 50. It probably is lowering my blood sugar to some degree, but not significantly. I need something more effective. At this rate, I'll be up to 80 units daily or more to reach my goal and will suffer side effects from such a high dose. I feel hungry all the time since using this and I've gained weight."

• Mag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2018

"This stuff is terrible! It's hard to use, hard to inject, inaccurate dosing, burns at the injection site. Control isn't good either. I hate this and want to go back to Levemir! It's all about insurance companies and money, not what's best for patients!"

• Cyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2018

"I took Lantus prior to Basaglar, which was chemically similar. Within days, my blood glucose was out of control. Previously, my HbA1c was 6.2. My glucose level rose from a norm of 109-179 to 154-228. Basaglar did NOT last a full 24 hours. Around hour 10, it seemed to wear off, causing elevated blood glucose levels. I developed a nagging, dry cough, swollen legs, and upper abdomen. My doctor applied for a medical exception with my insurer and CVS to return to Lantus. I have to pay a higher co-pay (Basaglar copay is $30 and Lantus is $50 for a 3-week supply. To get a full month's supply, I would have had to pay double that amount). The dry cough has not gone away. Neither has the swelling in my upper abdomen. My blood glucose levels are lower but are no longer under good control as before Basaglar. Very unhappy with the outcome. I filed a complaint with the FDA."

• Bar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 6, 2019

"My insurance forced the switch from Lantus, which I have been taking for years, to Basaglar. I started to develop skin sensitivity, rash, and my sugar became hard to control. I also started having heart and breathing problems. The Basaglar also seems to deliver its payload rapidly several hours after injection, causing hard to control highs and lows. I was able to get a card from Sanofi for discounted Lantus. Things are improving, but I feel I have a ways to go to undo the damage done by the Basaglar."

• Kan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 25, 2018

"I forgot my Lantus on a trip and felt great the whole time I was on vacation. I restarted it and felt worse each day: backache, cramping in legs, ringing in ears, fatigue. I had been exercising and walking while not on it, and now since I have restarted, I can't even bend over."

• GER...
• June 14, 2015

"People who have higher incomes on Medicare and who take 2 insulins plus more than 10 other medications, including additional tier 3 meds for life, do not fit into any supported categories. I reached the donut hole on April 19 when my monthly medicine payments were $45 for each tier 3 medicine. Now one Lantus is $173 for 20 days, Novolog is about the same, plus an additional $250 or more for other meds. I worked hard all my life to get a decent Social Security, and now I have stopped taking my Lantus because I cannot afford $173 for every 20 days."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2019

"I have been on Basaglar for at least 6 months, and it was just ok. Now I have terrible heart issues and breathing problems. Will not take this any longer. Someone needs to check into these problems and make sure this drug is safe!"

• ill...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 4, 2019

"Been on both Lantus and now Basaglar, and with Lantus alone, it controlled my BGL well. With Basaglar, I have barely improved my A1C with it and now need Novolog at big meals to even keep my A1C below 8.0. It seems like Basaglar doesn’t do anything to level out the smaller spikes as Lantus did. I have tried different injection sites, and nothing helps. I could probably inject saline solution and get better results. The FDA needs to re-evaluate Basaglar because it’s not close to being as effective as Lantus."

• CAS...
• April 23, 2015

"I have been a diabetic for 20 years now. I am on metformin 1000 mg two times a day. I have also been on Lantus for the same time. A doctor can tell you what to take, but it may not be right. I was told to take 65 units at bedtime, but if I was sick or did not eat much that day, I could bottom out in the AM. What I'm trying to say is you will have to find the right dose for you by checking your blood sugar on a regular basis. If your blood sugar was 350 at bedtime, my Lantus dose would be 82. I seldom take the same dose every night, and I am staying in the good A1C range, 22 for a 435 range will not work for me either. It's tough, but you must keep a log to see what dose you gave yourself the last time and adjust it from there. Love you guys."

• Ste...
• February 9, 2016

"I've been taking Toujeo for about 3 weeks now. I previously used Lantus. Was able to use a drug card to get the Toujeo price really low. But my sugars have been all over the place. I have had 350 highs and 74 lows, up and down, with no real reason. For example, two nights ago, my bedtime reading was 114, and the next morning, without eating anything, my reading was 353!! No reason. Anyone else having this issue with Toujeo? Will it level out eventually?"

• Ric...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 6, 2019

"I have been on metformin for about 25 years and additional pill meds to supplement for a long time. Dr. recently switched me to Basaglar a little over a month ago. Started at 15 units and have increased to 30. No change. Fasting sugars remain in the 250-280 range and mid 300’s two hours after meals. And this is while also taking 1000 mg of metformin a day. Not happy with this."

• ton...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2018

"With Lantus, my glucose was controlled. Then the doctor gave me Basaglar KwikPen, and the problems started. I find that the pen doesn't deliver the amount that I have selected. Normally, I use 40 units of Lantus. With this KwikPen, I selected 40 units, and the pen delivers different amounts, sometimes it's 35 u, others 37 u, so my glucose went up. Then I decided to mark in the pen 44 u, so I compensated for the amount that the pen delivers. Then my glucose was too low because the amount that delivers was 49 u. Since then, my A1C went up. I'm going to see my doctor in 2 weeks, and I know she is going to nag me because of my A1C, and the exactitude with the pen is compromised. If you are about to switch to this brand, be careful because it doesn't work properly."

• DEN...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 4, 2024

"I am no longer taking Lantus. I was gaining weight and A1C was above 7 (157 average for 3 months). Lispro is working for me. As needed, I will inject an amount less. Insulin is what is helping with the weight. Only 50 days since I stopped taking not just Lantus but I was also on Trulicity. I have lost 10 pounds. I must say it was a life change for me. My diet was also changed. The continuous blood glucose monitoring is what really helped. Four times a day testing is not enough to show all, and when there is a spike from a food that should be avoided. Finding the foods that do not cause a spike will not be the same for everyone. My diet has changed with the help of my FREESTYLE 2. Lantus may work, I just did not lower my readings while on Lantus and Trulicity. Metformin and Glipizide (pills) did not work. For me, Lispro as needed is working to lower my blood glucose."

• kpa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 16, 2019

"Worst experience of my life! I've always maintained an A1c of 6.5 - 7.2 on Lantus and using the Wal-Mart 70/30, but my insurance quit paying for my Lantus, so I was switched to Basaglar, and now I've had the worst A1c levels of 12.0 and 13.1 just this past week after 6 months! I've been on to my insurance, and finally, they are paying for a portion of my Lantus. Seems I'm not the only one."

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2019

"Was on Toujeo for years, which worked very well. My insurance dropped Toujeo in favor of Basaglar to reduce costs. For me, it’s much less effective. Morning blood glucose is 20-30 points higher; night is 40-50 points higher even with a 10-unit dosage increase. Basaglar is also 3x dilute, so it requires at least 3x injection volume increase. The injection pens seem to require more force, which causes me to bend needles when I inject in kidney fat pads (can’t inject in belly anymore). I don’t like Basaglar."

• Sug...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2017

"About 1 1/2 weeks into using Toujeo, 50 units at night, I started having rapid heartbeat and constant extra/skipped heartbeats. Dr. said Toujeo could NOT cause that. Wore a halter monitor for 3 days. My Dr. asked me if I had always had an 'irregular heartbeat.' Hello? No Dr. ever told me that, and I never had one. You'd think my Dr. might know that? However, my nutritionist looked it up on her computer and said, 'Oh, I'm sorry to tell you this, but irregular heartbeat is one of the most common side effects of Toujeo.' I looked it up myself, and sure enough... there it was. I stopped on my own... about 3 weeks later, heartbeat slowly returned to normal. Toujeo caused??? YES, I think so."

• Kee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2018

"I started taking Basaglar two months ago. I had a massive headache for two weeks straight, although my sugar went from 250 to 152 while using 12u. Then, after the first two weeks, my headache went away, but my sugar went way back up to the 300s. Went back to the doc, and as per their instructions, I increased the insulin by 5u every 3 days. At first, there was no change. However, when I got to 20u, the persistent headaches started again, my vision blurred, I started to shake, and I broke out in a cold sweat. I had to leave work early for 2 days in a row because I couldn't cope. No pain meds, even Hydrocodone, would help. After reading these reviews and experiencing this myself, I'm not taking this drug."

• epa...
• February 25, 2015

"Oral meds did not bring down the A1c nor the fasting blood sugars, which stayed in the 140s and kept climbing. I have now been on Lantus for 6 months, titrated dose every Saturday, increasing dose by 4 units per week until my fasting blood sugars are averaging 100, A1c is in normal range now. Have not had any hypoglycemia bouts, which happened with the oral meds. I give this insulin a two thumbs up."

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2018

"My insurance company switched me to this, and I have gone from my usual blood sugar of 90 to 120 to this morning 435. I have had muscle pain, night cramps, increased appetite, and weight gain. I hate this, and I am on my way to the emergency room because of it. I feel a lawsuit coming on. I think this is an experimental drug, and it’s hurting a lot of people. It's a shame the greed that exhibits itself in the drug industry."

• Bir...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 17, 2020

"I have taken Toujeo for over a year. A1C down 1.5 points. I gained weight the first three months but leveled off. I take 60 units each morning. Also metformin 2000 mg a day. No bad side effects. Regulates my glucose readings. Very few plus 200. Usually 90-155. I’ll take it. I exercise three days a week but nothing Herculean. My diet is pretty low carb, but Toujeo allows for a little cheating. My dose continues to be okay for now. Thought this might encourage a few to give it a try."