Toujeo DoubleStar (insulin glargine) is a basal insulin contained in an injection pen. As a basal insulin, Toujeo DoubleStar can be used by both type 1 and type 2 diabetics to help keep a stable baseline of insulin in the body.

To be clear this medication is administered by injection. Toujeo DoubleStar is conveniently held inside an injection pen, which can be used multiple times. The needle is short and very fine, minimizing discomfort.

Mothers who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and the parents of children below age 18, should be aware that no studies have been performed to determine Toujeo DoubleStar's impact on these age groups. Other studies, as well as real-world use reports, indicate that the same active ingredient in this product does not cause harm. However, caretakers for young patients and mothers of unborn or nursing babies should discuss the issue with a doctor before use.

How It Works

Toujeo DoubleStar is a basal insulin, used to maintain a relatively low-level background insulin. It will not compensate for glucose spikes, such as may occur following a meal. Type 1 diabetics will require an additional, fast-acting insulin for use during glucose spikes. Type 2 diabetics are more variable, and may or may not require additional insulin. Type 2 diabetics also sometimes take other, non-insulin medications to help manage diabetes.

Administered just once per day, the basal insulin is gradually released over 24 hours. It works in three ways:

• Replaces insulin not produced by the body
• Promotes glucose absorption from the blood into other tissues
• Inhibits the liver's production of glucose

It does this with low but consistent levels of insulin, establishing a baseline. Patients will benefit in both the short-term and long-term from these actions; smaller fluctuations will be minimized or eliminated---as well as the symptoms of them, such as fatigue or blurry vision---and, perhaps more significantly, the nearly-constant background damage being done inside the body is slowed or stopped. Many of these complications are nearly undetectable until severe damage has already been done, and by that point many are irreversible. These can lead to serious physical disability and even death if untreated.

Toujeo DoubleStar begins working with the first dose. It is administered once per day, every day, for as long as it provides benefit and no serious adverse reactions develop. The majority of patients not only have better control of blood glucose, they feel better as well---less fatigue, pain, vision impairment, and so forth.

Patients taking Toujeo DoubleStar, or any insulin medication, should be aware of the risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose. Hypoglycemia is a common side effect when this medication is first started or following dose adjustments, particularly when another type of insulin is also administered. All patients---both type 1 and type 2 diabetics---should make themselves aware of the symptoms and have a plan in place in case hypoglycemia develops, including access to rapid medical attention if severe.

Injection Pen & Dose Details

As mentioned at the start of this article, Toujeo DoubleStar comes as a pre-filled injection pen. The medication should be kept in, and administered with, the pen; it should not be removed and must not be administered intravenously or via an insulin pump. The prescribing doctor will explain and show the patient how to use the injection pen, and instructions are also included with each pen.

Toujeo also makes the Toujeo SoloStar pen, which is identical to the DoubleStar but contains half of the amount of injectable fluid. In other words:

• Toujeo SoloStar contains 1.5 ml of injectable fluid
• Toujeo DoubleStar contains 3 ml of injectable fluid

Each ml (milliliter) of injectable fluid contains 300 units of insulin glargine. So, the SoloStar contains 450 units of insulin glargine, while the DoubleStar contains 900 units of insulin glargine. The DoubleStar may sound like the obvious choice, but, as will be explained shortly, it depends on daily dose amount which pen is preferable.

Note that the units measurement describing the quantity of insulin glargine, and very often dose amount, are unique to this brand. It is not interchangeable with any other unit, including those used in similar products that also contain insulin glargine but are offered by a different brand. Be certain the correct product was received after purchase, and never interchange dose amounts between brands.

As to which pen is preferable to buy, it depends on how much medication is used each day. Pens should be kept refrigerated (though not frozen) until their first use; once opened, a pen should be kept at room temperature. Opened pens should be discarded after four weeks. So, if a patient runs out of medication with a SoloStar well before the four week mark, it may be better to buy the DoubleStar. On the other hand, if there is still a significant amount of medication in the pen being discarded after four weeks, the SoloStar is likely a better choice.

Each pen is adjustable, making the exact prescribed dose amount easy to administer. Again details and instructions regarding pen use are included with each product purchased.