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Insulin glargine User Reviews & Ratings

Brand names: Lantus, Basaglar, Toujeo SoloStar, Lantus SoloStar, Semglee, Toujeo Max SoloStar, Rezvoglar

Insulin glargine has an average rating of 4.1 out of 10 from a total of 284 reviews on Drugs.com. 26% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 59% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Insulin glargine

  • Cursed
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 7, 2019

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "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 300's 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!"

1 / 10
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  • AEB
  • September 4, 2019

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "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?"

2 / 10
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  • Bob
  • August 16, 2019

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "I have had "Type 2 Diabetes" for 20 years. Was on Lantus for most of that time. Blood sugars were so well controlled I was able to stop Lantus for weeks and stay on oral medications (not Metformin but Pioglitzone and Sitaglyptin). My insurance switched me to Basaglar. At first it seemed OK. However, in 24 hrs 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."

2 / 10
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Frequently asked questions

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

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "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 Doctors pre-approval request 2 times? Basaglar was their replacement drug of choice sooo 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 lives are governed by the Decisions of a bunch of Insurance underwriters as apposed to the knowledge of our Doctors?"

9 / 10
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  • fullo...
  • January 31, 2012

Lantus (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "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. "

5 / 10
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Are you taking this medicine?

  • Magic
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 2, 2018

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "This stuff is terrible! Its hard to use, hard to inject, inaccurate dosing, burns at injection site. Control isn't good either. I hate this and want to go back to Levemir ! Its all about insurance companies and money, not whats best for patients!"

1 / 10
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  • LMark
  • October 21, 2018

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "I had to change from lantus to basaglar due to insurance company changing pier status of lantus I am very concerned due to the inaccuracy of the basaglar kwikpen. Some times it gives the correct amount I have dialled in, more often it is lowering the amount I have dialled 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 pen."

4 / 10
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More FAQ

  • Nita
  • May 9, 2019

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 1 "I was on Lantus for about 8 year's and was forced to take Basaglar due to insurance issues. Since the swap to Basaglar I've already had two diabetic seizures in the last few weeks due to my blood sugar dropping to the 30's in the morning, yes...my blood sugar was 32 this morning, I cover carbs with novolog but stopped covering my evening food and before bedtime snacks so it wouldn't drop and it still did. I lowered the dose time after time and ate a ton of carbs before bed and I still almost died, however it doesn't lower my sugar later in the day I have to cover my meals with twice the fast acting as I normally would. They need a lawsuit formed against them for making this stuff."

1 / 10
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  • Cyndy
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 23, 2018

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "I took Lantus prior to Basaglar which was chemically "similar". Within days my blood glucose was out of control. Priorly, 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 & 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's $30 & 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."

1 / 10
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  • Diabe...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • June 13, 2019

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 1 "I was put on basaglar by my insurance company who was refusing to pay for Lantus. I have never been sicker in my life! I take so much more short-acting insulin all day long and wake up in the 2 to 300 range everyday. This has to be at placebo! It's being forced on us because it is cheaper but how much cheaper could it be if it is not working!"

1 / 10
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  • Dextor
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 18, 2019

Toujeo SoloStar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 1 "My endo switched me from Lantus to Toujeo about 8 weeks ago. It has been a disaster for me ever since switching. I have extreme highs and lows. I go to bed with blood sugar normal and wake up with it approaching 275 or higher. Occasionally I have a high blood sugar and will take a humalog correction, OFTEN with no effect. I constantly have high blood sugars for most of the day. This did not happen when I was taking Lantus. Now the only times I can have steady blood sugars on Toujeo is when I don’t eat! This is unacceptable! I do agree with some other comments here: Toujeo is a substandard insulin and should be taken off the market IMMEDIATELY! BTW, I am a type1 diabetic since 1977. Toujeo is terrible!!!!"

1 / 10
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  • Baron...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • November 6, 2019

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "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 think I have a ways to go to undo the damage done by the Basaglar."

1 / 10
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  • GERId...
  • June 14, 2015

Lantus (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "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 April 19 when my monthly medicine payments were $45 for each tier 3 medicine. Now one lantus is $173 for 20 days, novalog is about the same plus a additional 250 or more for other meds. I worked hard all my life to get a decent social security and now have stopped taking my lantus because I cannot afford $173 for every 20 days. "

10 / 10
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  • illin...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • December 4, 2019

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "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 meal 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."

2 / 10
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  • qwerty
  • January 14, 2019

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 1 "Recently switched from Levemir to Basaglar with a new job & new insurance. Like everyone else -- I have NO idea how this insulin was approved for T1D use. Seriously baffled. I have the Dexcom G6 CGM, so I'm painfully aware of just how bad it is. Every day I wake up & watch my sugar climb to 250 while fasting. I desperately shoot Novolog well into the late afternoon until I finally reach the some normalcy. Even still I can't eat a salad with four and a half croutons without my sugar climbing to 300, even with dosing well in advance. This is really blowing my mind, I'm pretty sure it's just water. If I don't get Levemir back the only way I can see myself staying out of DKA is a practically no carb diet. I'm just out here screaming into the void..."

1 / 10
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  • Anniek
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 29, 2019

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "I have been on Basaglar for at least 6 mths 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!!"

1 / 10
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  • human...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 20, 2022

Semglee (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 1 "My awful insurance company stopped covering Lantus on January first, with no warning to me. When I went to pick up Lantus the pharmacist instead gave me Semglee, a totally unknown drug to me. I did not want to take Semglee. I have many food and drug allergies. I have waited a month to hear from the insurance if they will still allow me to get Lantus because of my allergic reaction concerns upon switching to Semglee. I finally ran out of Lantus today, and tried Semglee. Redness and radiating soreness at injection site, dizzy, feel faint. I took a reduced dose from my Lantus dose out of fear of a bad reaction. That was a good call. I am not taking this again. Will just use (higher doses) Novolog, without a supporting long-lasting insulin. Crappy insurance company changes my Lantus after 20 years of successful use. I hope they are happy with their extra money."

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

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "With lantus my glucose was controlled, then Dr. gave me basaglar kwickpen and the problems started. I find that the pen doesn't delivers the amount that I have selected. Normally I use 40 units of lantus, with this kwickpen pen, I selected 40 units and the pen delivers different amounts, sometimes is 35 u. others 37 u. so my glucose went up, then I decided mark in the pen 44 u. so I compensated the amount that the pen delivers, then my glucose was to low, because the amount that delivers was 49 u. since then my A1C went up . I'm going to see my Dr. in 2 weeks and I know she is going to nag me because my A1C and it's the exactitude with the pen is compromised. If you are about to switch to this brand careful cause doesn't work properly."

3 / 10
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  • John
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 9, 2019

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "Was on Toujeo for years, which worked very well. My insurance dropped Toujeo in favor of Basalglar 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. Basalglar 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 Basalglar."

3 / 10
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  • Rick
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 6, 2019

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "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."

1 / 10
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  • Stefgib
  • February 9, 2016

Toujeo SoloStar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "I've been taking Toujeo for about 3 weeks now. I previously used Lantus. Was able to use a drug card to get 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?"

6 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • May 12, 2023

Semglee (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 1 "Was switched from Lantus to Semglee. Severe rash, itching all over body. Injection sites burn with rash and sores. I hate this stuff. Take it off the shelves. Going back to Lantus. Insurance companies should be held liable for making people change to this junk."

1 / 10
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  • CASEY...
  • April 23, 2015

Lantus (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "I have been a diabetic for 20 years now. I am on metformin 1000mg 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 guy's."

9 / 10
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  • kpalmer
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • April 16, 2019

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 2 "Worst experience of my life! I've always maintained a 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 been on to my insurance and finally they are paying for portion for my lantus Seems I'm not the only one"

1 / 10
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  • Basag...
  • April 8, 2019

Basaglar (insulin glargine) for Diabetes, Type 1 "I was taking Lantus for years without any problems or side effects. Then the insurance company forced me to switch to Basaglar. As soon as I started taking it, it was making me sick with flu-like symptoms. I stopped taking it for a few days to see if it was the insulin that was causing it, and it was. The symptoms went away as soon as I stopped taking Basaglar, and then when I started taking it again, the symptoms came back. Basaglar IS TRASH. Pharmaceutical and insurance companies try to tell you that Basaglar is pretty much the same thing as Lantus, but that's NOT TRUE."

1 / 10
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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.