I've been on Lantus for about ten years now. I tried different insulins over the years (NPH, Ultralente, and the like) plus that almost two year stint on the pump. Lantus seems the best for me, although I'd still like to try Levemir. Lantus keeps me stable without giving me constant lows.
The drops are predictable. With split doses, I get fairly steady blood sugars. Overall, I've been happy with Lantus for years. But lately, I've noticed a change that I've very rarely experience but often heard about.
With every injection lately, I'm experiencing a lot of pain. It isn't happening with Humalog, just my Lantus. I'm not sure if it's the location or just the insulin. I generally give my morning and evening Lantus injections in my bottom. Both my doses are too big for what's comfortable for me elsewhere.
But lately, I don't even want to take the injection. The pain is the typical burning pain that a lot of people complain about with Lantus. It's just something that I've never experienced before. On occasion, but never with every injection.
I don't know if it's perhaps the bottle of insulin causing the problem. Maybe there's a chemical imbalance in the bottle that I'm using. Or maybe it's just some new reaction that my body is having. Perhaps it's my body telling me that I've used that injection site too many times.
I honestly don't know what would bring about such a drastic change, but I really hope that it resolves itself soon. Taking an injection is bad enough on its own. The inconvenience of having to find a bathroom or be home. The drawing, changing needles, and general care of sites. Then the insertion so many times every single day.
I do not need burning pain with every Lantus injection. I do not need any hesitance in taking life-sustaining insulin twice a day. Really it's a shame that insulin injections don't come with some sort of pleasant bonus.
Like an airplane. Or free movie tickets. I'd even settle for cheesecake.
I also used to use Lantus, I now however use Novo Rapid. When I used Lantus I had terrible burning pain, I started having to give myself a few small needles in different places. It helped ease my pain so maybe you could ask your doctor about taking two needles so you can give your insulin in other areas of your body but not have such a big dose. The down side is that you have to take more needles, but the if it helps with the pain...well it's a personal choice!
hey linds...dude i am having the same thing going on and my insulin dose is not that much am on about 14 units but it stings like a Mo Fo... (dont mind my french)especially my abdomen areas and lower back places... I just thought it was because i had been on it for the last 6 or 7 years so maybe my skin n body were just knackered or something... maybe there is some chemical component of the lantus that is causing this...am so investigating this...but am glad to know am not the only one having lantus burn...other than that i love lantus...
Lindsey, I tried Lantus years ago for a short period of time. Never had burning. Is the insulin cold when you are injecting. That could be the problem. I could never get the right dose with Lantus and was constantly augmenting with Humalog. I have been on Levemir for about two years and it works great. I take 15 units in the am and 6 units at 10 pm. Of course I take pre-meal Humalog. Why aren't you using pens? That whole drawing up a syringe is so inconvenient. Do try Levemir. It works well for me.
I have that happen with Lantus. Not all the time but I would say at least 65% of the time. I was told the stinging comes from the acidic quality of the preservative.