Insulin glargine and Itching: What Users Say

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

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."

• djr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 13, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have taken Toujeo for 1 1/2 years now. I have broken out with a rash and itching over my entire body for the past three months. I told my doctor, and he said that can't happen with insulin. I've been to three doctors, and they all tell me the same. I stopped taking Toujeo. The rash is starting to clear, but it is slow in clearing. There is nothing that helps."

• klr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 18, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Have been on Toujeo for over 2 years, taking 80 units at bedtime. Like the other reviewer, djricci, the Toujeo has caused a rash to break out all over my body, especially on the lower legs and scalp. The overall constant itching is driving me nuts. Results have been so-so, I am lucky if sugar is below 200 in the AM. Have also experienced some of the side effects others have noted (blurry vision, weight gain, dizziness)."

• Pre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2018

For Diabetes, Type 1 "As with many others, experiencing headaches, anxiety, dizziness, feeling in mental limbo, tired, though some symptoms clear by afternoon or late day. My problem is that the endocrinologist I was seeing just since February quit at the same time he put me on Basaglar because Lantus was making me itch all over. I had side effects from all meds, so my family doctor sent me to him. Hope to see a regular doctor soon who also has diabetes. Maybe she can help? Only good note is that my points are down. Scary that someone checked the 'tube' on four or five and nothing came out. Sad to be a guinea pig or test subject. I'm older and only diagnosed in the last four years. Very disheartening to have this malady."

• sun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 6, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "I found out Lantus wasn't covered by my insurance about June 2022, and Semglee was a replacement, although the copay assistance card made the copay $0. I finally started taking it after using up some Lantus, and after a week, I have some hives and itching. Also, I'm unusually tired when I'm not doing anything versus when I wasn't taking it. I'm going to see if I can increase my Trulicity and get off Semglee totally."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 8, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "Seems almost everyone was switched off insulin that works to Basaglar in 2016. I take 90 per day in addition to 1000 metformin twice a day and fast-acting up to 3x a day. When I started Basaglar, it seemed to work. It gradually started being less effective, it is now like I am using water. My mornings were running up to 90, they now run up to 200. In 2021, I started itching on all the soft parts of my skin, shoulder pains, fatigue, sleeping issues, and weight gain. I have discussed issues with my doctor, he doesn't feel that Basaglar is the issue. I go to see him in a month, it's time to demand a change."

• unh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 24, 2023

"I was switched from Levemir to Basaglar because my skin was reacting to the Levemir. I got giant hives that were itchy. Basaglar is working better for me in terms of lowering my fasting sugar levels. However, the pen is much harder to use than the Levemir pen, especially if you inject yourself. Horrible design. And the injection site hurts for a little bit afterward. Not sure if that is from the pen itself or the medication, but I did not have these problems with the Levemir injection pens."

• car...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 16, 2023

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been feeling worse since I started taking Semglee. It caused my ankles, foot, lower legs to swell, I felt dizzy and had itching."