Lantus is long-acting insulin analogue, usually given once a day, to help control the blood sugar level of those with diabetes. It's theoretical advantage is that it has a 24 hr duration of action with a "peakless" profile. Thus it more closely resembles the basal insulin sectretion of the normal pancreatic beta cells. In type 2 diabets and in combination with a short acting sulphonylurea (drugs which stimulate the pancreas to make more insulin), it can offer moderate control of serum glucose levels. In the absence of endogenous insulin (Type 1 diabetes or depleted type 2) Lantus needs the support of a fast acting insulin taken with food to reduce the effect of prandially derived glucose. It is post-prandial glucose elevation which more significantly affects HbA1c and thus determines the progression of the long-term complications of diabetes mellitus. The structure of insulin Red: carbon; green: oxygen; blue: nitrogen; pink: sulfur. ... In medicine, blood sugar is a term used to refer to levels of glucose in the blood. ... This article is about the disease that features high blood sugar. ...

The peakless profile of Lantus also enables the dose to be relatively higher than standard NPH insulin. Because standard NPH is normally administered at night, its peak of action tends to coincide with the lower serum glucose levels associated with nocturnal metabolism. This can induce nocturnal hypoglycaemia. Lantus offers the benefit of a more consistent pharmacological dynamic without nocturnal hypoglycaemia. The result of which is a patient who feels more confident and more comfortable with a lower pre-bed and pre-breakfast capillary glucose level.