Basaglar for Diabetes, Type 2 User Reviews

• Cur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2019

"I agree with the vast majority of reviews here and elsewhere -- Basaglar is garbage. It doesn't work at all! Before being switched, I was waking up to levels between 80 to 135. Even with drastic increases in dosage, my levels are in the 300s and never come down, even while fasting. This garbage is a placebo -- sugar water. Worthless and dangerous to use. God only knows what kind of damage it's causing diabetics!"

• AEB...
• September 4, 2019

"I was on Lantus, which worked beautifully for me. Like others, I was switched to Basaglar (not my doing). The issue I am having is that my appetite seems to have doubled. In a matter of two months, I went from 188lb to 201lb. I know my diet as a diabetic is a delicate one. I have had no other changes in my meds whatsoever. This has occurred since I started this insulin. I hate it!!! Am I the only one that experienced this issue?"

• Unc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 28, 2018

"Well... Those fools at my insurance company have decided they know more than my doctors about medicating my diabetes type 2. They refused my Lantus script after 5 successful years of controlling my A1C. Insurance denied my doctor's pre-approval request 2 times. Basaglar was their replacement drug of choice, so here we go. So far, about 1 year now, and as of today, NO bad side effects. My A1Cs are about the same as before, and everything appears to be fine? (Knock on wood) I have had a heart attack recently and required 4 stents to get me up again on my feet. My cardio team has reviewed my med list and do not think it has any relation to my using Basaglar as opposed to Lantus. I place my trust in my team and will continue to use Basaglar until I am advised against it by my doctors, have a reaction to it, or my insurance decides there is a cheaper alternative? God help us all who live governed by the decisions of a bunch of insurance underwriters as opposed to the knowledge of our doctors."

• Bob...
• August 16, 2019

"I have had Type 2 diabetes for 20 years. I was on Lantus for most of that time. Blood sugars were so well controlled that I was able to stop Lantus for weeks and stay on oral medications (not Metformin, but Pioglitazone and Sitagliptin). My insurance switched me to Basaglar. At first, it seemed okay. However, in 24 hours, my sugar jumped from under 200 mg% to over 500 mg%. Reading the other patient reports and considering my own experience, I would say it is highly likely that the batches of Basaglar vary in potency. Note that in the online report on this insulin, https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cadth.ca%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fcdr%2Fseb%2FSE0451_Basaglar_SEB_Report.pdf vital information has been redacted. So, you can't view the reports on its purity or stability. This was a money-saving gambit by the manufacturer. As an M.D. with 30 years of treating diabetes, I think this insulin is unreliable."

• LMa...
• October 21, 2018

"I had to change from Lantus to Basaglar due to the insurance company changing the prior authorization status of Lantus. I am very concerned due to the inaccuracy of the Basaglar KwikPen. Sometimes it gives the correct amount I have dialed in, more often, it is lowering the amount I have dialed in. My morning blood sugar is fluctuating greatly because of this. If you are using this KwikPen, be aware it may not be administering the correct dose. I feel there should be an investigation on the quality of the pen."

• Mag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2018

"This stuff is terrible! It's hard to use, hard to inject, inaccurate dosing, burns at the injection site. Control isn't good either. I hate this and want to go back to Levemir! It's all about insurance companies and money, not what's best for patients!"

• Cyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2018

"I took Lantus prior to Basaglar, which was chemically similar. Within days, my blood glucose was out of control. Previously, my HbA1c was 6.2. My glucose level rose from a norm of 109-179 to 154-228. Basaglar did NOT last a full 24 hours. Around hour 10, it seemed to wear off, causing elevated blood glucose levels. I developed a nagging, dry cough, swollen legs, and upper abdomen. My doctor applied for a medical exception with my insurer and CVS to return to Lantus. I have to pay a higher co-pay (Basaglar copay is $30 and Lantus is $50 for a 3-week supply. To get a full month's supply, I would have had to pay double that amount). The dry cough has not gone away. Neither has the swelling in my upper abdomen. My blood glucose levels are lower but are no longer under good control as before Basaglar. Very unhappy with the outcome. I filed a complaint with the FDA."

• Bar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 6, 2019

"My insurance forced the switch from Lantus, which I have been taking for years, to Basaglar. I started to develop skin sensitivity, rash, and my sugar became hard to control. I also started having heart and breathing problems. The Basaglar also seems to deliver its payload rapidly several hours after injection, causing hard to control highs and lows. I was able to get a card from Sanofi for discounted Lantus. Things are improving, but I feel I have a ways to go to undo the damage done by the Basaglar."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2019

"I have been on Basaglar for at least 6 months, and it was just ok. Now I have terrible heart issues and breathing problems. Will not take this any longer. Someone needs to check into these problems and make sure this drug is safe!"

• Ric...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 6, 2019

"I have been on metformin for about 25 years and additional pill meds to supplement for a long time. Dr. recently switched me to Basaglar a little over a month ago. Started at 15 units and have increased to 30. No change. Fasting sugars remain in the 250-280 range and mid 300’s two hours after meals. And this is while also taking 1000 mg of metformin a day. Not happy with this."

• ton...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2018

"With Lantus, my glucose was controlled. Then the doctor gave me Basaglar KwikPen, and the problems started. I find that the pen doesn't deliver the amount that I have selected. Normally, I use 40 units of Lantus. With this KwikPen, I selected 40 units, and the pen delivers different amounts, sometimes it's 35 u, others 37 u, so my glucose went up. Then I decided to mark in the pen 44 u, so I compensated for the amount that the pen delivers. Then my glucose was too low because the amount that delivers was 49 u. Since then, my A1C went up. I'm going to see my doctor in 2 weeks, and I know she is going to nag me because of my A1C, and the exactitude with the pen is compromised. If you are about to switch to this brand, be careful because it doesn't work properly."

• ill...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 4, 2019

"Been on both Lantus and now Basaglar, and with Lantus alone, it controlled my BGL well. With Basaglar, I have barely improved my A1C with it and now need Novolog at big meals to even keep my A1C below 8.0. It seems like Basaglar doesn’t do anything to level out the smaller spikes as Lantus did. I have tried different injection sites, and nothing helps. I could probably inject saline solution and get better results. The FDA needs to re-evaluate Basaglar because it’s not close to being as effective as Lantus."

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2019

"Was on Toujeo for years, which worked very well. My insurance dropped Toujeo in favor of Basaglar to reduce costs. For me, it’s much less effective. Morning blood glucose is 20-30 points higher; night is 40-50 points higher even with a 10-unit dosage increase. Basaglar is also 3x dilute, so it requires at least 3x injection volume increase. The injection pens seem to require more force, which causes me to bend needles when I inject in kidney fat pads (can’t inject in belly anymore). I don’t like Basaglar."

• kpa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 16, 2019

"Worst experience of my life! I've always maintained an A1c of 6.5 - 7.2 on Lantus and using the Wal-Mart 70/30, but my insurance quit paying for my Lantus, so I was switched to Basaglar, and now I've had the worst A1c levels of 12.0 and 13.1 just this past week after 6 months! I've been on to my insurance, and finally, they are paying for a portion of my Lantus. Seems I'm not the only one."

• Kee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2018

"I started taking Basaglar two months ago. I had a massive headache for two weeks straight, although my sugar went from 250 to 152 while using 12u. Then, after the first two weeks, my headache went away, but my sugar went way back up to the 300s. Went back to the doc, and as per their instructions, I increased the insulin by 5u every 3 days. At first, there was no change. However, when I got to 20u, the persistent headaches started again, my vision blurred, I started to shake, and I broke out in a cold sweat. I had to leave work early for 2 days in a row because I couldn't cope. No pain meds, even Hydrocodone, would help. After reading these reviews and experiencing this myself, I'm not taking this drug."

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2018

"My insurance company switched me to this, and I have gone from my usual blood sugar of 90 to 120 to this morning 435. I have had muscle pain, night cramps, increased appetite, and weight gain. I hate this, and I am on my way to the emergency room because of it. I feel a lawsuit coming on. I think this is an experimental drug, and it’s hurting a lot of people. It's a shame the greed that exhibits itself in the drug industry."

• Cat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 3, 2020

"I have been on Basaglar for about 6 months. I have used other types of insulin in the past. I find the pen hard to push when I am administering my insulin. I have a pen right now that is defective. I cannot push it to distribute the insulin. It seems stiff to turn to the number of units I need. I ended up using a new pen. I went to my pharmacy and talked to the pharmacist, and he said he could not replace the pen, that I needed to contact the company."

• Sco...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2019

"I would say I have experienced the same as many here. I was on Lantus, a very expensive insurance carrier forced me to take a cheaper drug to enhance their profit margin and not only forced me to buy from their preferred provider, CVS Caremark, but also switch to Basaglar. Since switching, my sugar has dramatically increased, especially in the morning for fasting blood sugar. This has forced me to increase my dosage, which doesn’t always work. I just got new insurance, and I sure as heck am getting back on Lantus!"

• Jer...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 21, 2020

"My insurance company changed from Toujeo to Basaglar last year. The pen does not give a consistent dosage, and there are also many air bubbles in the pen. Also, the pen does not glide easily. My A1C is not consistent. Next doctor's appointment, I am going to speak to him about increasing the dosage. I have complained to him about this pen. I also spoke to my pharmacist, and he told me there are other complaints about Basaglar."

• Nao...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2019

"My doctor had me take Basaglar as a generic for Lantus. Bad mistake, I ended up fainting a lot or passing out, slept all day, and woke up to 313 blood sugar, this is without eating or even drinking. This is without taking Metformin pill, but still disappointed. I have seen my blood sugar at the highest, close to 250 after eating a large meal, and this was not worth taking."

• Coa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 24, 2019

"Well, I for one can honestly say THIS MEDICATION Basaglar does not work! Blood sugar was 400 after taking 40 units of Basaglar overnight. Blood sugar when I woke up was 360, so I had to take rapid-acting insulin to bring blood sugar down. I think they are trying to get rid of us all with this stuff!"

• SLa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2020

"I used Lantus for years. Starting Jan. this year, my insurance company forces me to switch to Basaglar, which is totally not working for me. I have data in the reader to prove my A1C is going higher than ever. Why would insurance companies force patients to switch to a drug that is not proven?"

• pda...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2020

"Basaglar is the worst! Only lowered blood sugar from 211 to 177 with 15u. It did produce a screaming tinnitus, insomnia, muscle ache, blurred vision, difficulty focusing, shaky, brain throb, head in a fog, higher blood pressure, anxiety, panic spells, nightmares, hallucinations, seeing something that is not there. There is a lot more in this than the manufacturer claims. It is only good in the garbage can and is where it is now. I feel a lot better not taking it, and it was inhibiting my exercise and diet program. On track now."

• Afr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2018

"My doctor put me on Basaglar, and now I am experiencing joint pain in my shoulders, muscle cramps very often in my legs and arms, tingling and numbness in my fingertips, and for the first time, I had my chest feeling tight at night. So I saw a cardiologist, and he wants me to do a stress test, and I never had an indication of heart problems until taking Basaglar, and my sugar readings now tend to increase throughout the day. My doctor recommended me to take a 2nd dose, and even after the 2nd dose, my sugar tends to increase throughout the day, and several times it got as high as 385 by 3:30 p.m., which to me seems unusual, so I began testing my sugar levels around 4:30 or 5 p.m., and they were still high... around 250 or sometimes higher. The only thing it does do is lower my sugar at night. I've had high sugar levels 4 hours after eating lunch around 12:00 or 12:30 p.m. - this is something else that is happening. I do not want to take this medicine anymore, I want out."

• Joh...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 25, 2019

"In my experience, Basaglar is not as effective as Lantus. I was on Lantus for a year and managed my BGL (blood glucose levels) just fine. I was taking Metformin ER as well. Then I went off Lantus for about a year, but my A1C crept up again. I started on Basaglar for the savings in costs. I noticed right away that Basaglar was not as effective at reducing my BGL over time. I ended up using a short-acting along with it, which added to my overall costs. Not sure in the end it's worth the savings if you have to add additional meds to supplement its less effectiveness."