Skip to main content

How much Toujeo is too much?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on June 17, 2024.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Toujeo is a long-acting form of man-made insulin (insulin glargine) that may be used for the treatment of high blood sugar levels in adults and children 6 years and older with diabetes mellitus.

Like most medicines, insulin is required in the right amount. What that right amount is though can vary from person to person, and sometimes it can vary depending on the time of the day, what food you have eaten, if you have exercised, if you are unwell, and what your target blood goals are.

The correct amount of insulin for you will be determined by your doctor. It may take a couple of weeks to get the dose right, but follow his or her instructions and know the signs of both low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) and high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia).

Accidentally giving yourself too much insulin is reasonably common; however, with prefilled pens such as Toujeo, it is less likely because you can dial up the exact dose of insulin before you administer it.

Recognizing the symptoms of an insulin overdose can help correct it sooner rather than later.

The usual starting dose of Toujeo is 0.2 to 0.4 units of insulin per kilogram of body weight.

Related questions

What happens if you take too much Toujeo?

Toujeo contains insulin glargine, a long-acting insulin. If you take more than you need, then you are likely to develop dangerously low glucose levels in your blood (hypoglycemia).

Symptoms of mild low blood glucose levels may include:

If you develop any of these symptoms, take a fast-acting form of carbohydrate quickly, such as a glass of fruit juice, some glucose tablets, honey, or jellybeans. Follow it up with a long-acting carbohydrate, such as a jam sandwich.

Severe symptoms of hypoglycemia include:

Instruct your friends and family about what to do if they find you unconscious or having a seizure.

The best treatment for severe hypoglycemia is a glucagon injection because it counteracts the effects of insulin. Always go to the emergency room if you have had to use a glucagon injection, even if you are feeling better.

If you think you may be depressed, talk to your doctor about how you are feeling.

What is the difference between Toujeo Solostar and Toujeo Max Solostar?

Toujeo is available in prefilled pens for self-injection. One is called Toujeo SoloStar and the other is called Toujeo Max Solostar.

Toujeo Max Solostar is recommended for people requiring more than 20 units of insulin per day.

The dose counter at the end of the prefilled pen shows the number of units of Toujeo to be injected.

References

Read next

What are the different types of insulin?

Insulins are usually grouped as fast-acting, intermediate-acting, or long-acting. Within these groups, they can be further classified as human insulin and human insulin analogs. An insulin analog is a human insulin that has one or two amino acids changed which affects how quickly it is absorbed after injection and how fast or slow it acts. Insulin analogs are usually given within 15 minutes of a meal or at the same time as food. Continue reading

Soliqua vs Lantus: What’s the difference between them?

Soliqua is a combination of insulin glargine plus lixisenatide, and Lantus only contains insulin glargine. Both are once-daily injections that are given under the skin (subcutaneously), but Soliqua can only be used in adults with type 2 diabetes whereas Lantus may be used to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in adults and children over the age of six years. Both are made by Sanofi-Aventis. Continue reading

Can Toujeo be given twice a day?

Even though Toujeo is usually given once a day, some people may experience better blood sugar control if the dose is split and given twice a day (every 12 hours). Continue reading

See also:

Related medical questions

Drug information

Related support groups