Fears Insulin
"The thought of insulin scares me. Needles are painful."
- Fears Insulin

Turn patient fear into acceptance by changing negative perception of needles.

You may want to have the insulin talk sooner

Fear of needles is common.

Help patients understand the benefits of blood glucose control.

If you ask patients what scares them about starting insulin, you'll likely hear it's the needle. While the prospect of uncontrolled diabetes may be frightening, the immediate thought of self-injecting can be daunting for some. Traumatic childhood memories of needles may make many people apprehensive of self-injection.

  • Today's injections are administered using small, thin needles and generally cause little discomfort
  • If patients fear stigma, easy-to-use insulin pens that are prefilled and disposable may help them inject the insulin discreetly.

Needle phobia can be overcome

Turn patient fear into acceptance by changing negative perception of needles.

  • Show patients an actual insulin needle or pen. This can help them understand that today's insulin needles are quite small and thin
  • Explain to patients that insulin is injected in the fatty layer just under the skin, where there are fewer nerve endings
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Important Safety Information for Lantus®

Contraindications

Lantus® is contraindicated in patients hypersensitive to insulin glargine or one of its excipients.

Warnings and precautions

Monitor blood glucose in all patients treated with insulin. Insulin regimens should be modified cautiously and only under medical supervision. Changes in insulin strength, manufacturer, type, or method of administration may result in the need for a change in insulin dose or an adjustment in concomitant oral antidiabetic treatment.

Do not dilute or mix Lantus® with any other insulin or solution. If mixed or diluted, the solution may become cloudy, and the onset of action/time to peak effect may be altered in an unpredictable manner. Do not administer Lantus® via an insulin pump or intravenously because severe hypoglycemia can occur. Insulin devices and needles must not be shared between patients.

Hypoglycemia is the most common adverse reaction of insulin therapy, including Lantus®, and may be life-threatening.

Severe life-threatening, generalized allergy, including anaphylaxis, can occur.

A reduction in the Lantus® dose may be required in patients with renal or hepatic impairment.

Drug interactions

Certain drugs may affect glucose metabolism, requiring insulin dose adjustment and close monitoring of blood glucose. The signs of hypoglycemia may be reduced in patients taking anti-adrenergic drugs (e.g., beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine).

Adverse reactions

Other adverse reactions commonly associated with Lantus® are injection site reaction, lipodystrophy, pruritus, and rash.

Important Safety Information for Lantus® SoloSTAR®

Lantus® SoloSTAR® is a disposable prefilled insulin pen. To help ensure an accurate dose each time, patients should follow all steps in the Instruction Leaflet accompanying the pen; otherwise they may not get the correct amount of insulin, which may affect their blood glucose.

Indications and Usage for Lantus®

Lantus® is a long-acting insulin analog indicated to improve glycemic control in adults and children (6 years and older) with type 1 diabetes mellitus and in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lantus® should be administered once a day at the same time every day.

Important Limitations of Use: Lantus® is not recommended for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis. Use intravenous short-acting insulin instead.

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