Meritus

What Meritus (Insulin glargine) is used for

Insulin glargine is a long-acting (basal) insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body move sugar (glucose) from the blood into the cells for energy, and it stops the liver making too much sugar. Long-acting insulin works slowly and steadily to give a low background level of insulin through the day and night, mainly at times when you are not eating. It is injected under the skin with a pen or from a vial, and it is a prescription medicine. WHO lists long-acting insulins such as insulin glargine, including quality-assured biosimilar versions, as essential medicines.

• Type 1 diabetes, in adults and children (everyone with type 1 diabetes needs insulin)
• Type 2 diabetes, when tablets or other medicines are not enough to control blood sugar. It is often used alongside these medicines.
• Some people with diabetes in pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
• Helping to prevent the symptoms of high blood sugar and long-term damage to the heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves and feet
• People who have had dangerously low blood sugar on older human insulins may benefit from a long-acting insulin like glargine

Side effects, warnings and interactions for Insulin glargine

Prepared from the sources listed by the MedInfoBase team. General information, not medical advice: it gives no doses. Your doctor or pharmacist decides the medicine and dose for you.