Toujeo vs. Humalog for Diabetes Type 2 and Diabetes Type 1: Important Differences and Potential Risks.

Key takeaways

Toujeo (insulin glargine) and Humalog (insulin lispro) are both insulins used to manage diabetes, but they have different characteristics. Toujeo is a long-acting insulin that helps control blood sugar levels throughout the day and night, lasting up to 36 hours. It's typically injected once daily. In contrast, Humalog is a fast-acting insulin that starts working within 15 minutes and is used to control blood sugar spikes from meals. It usually requires multiple injections per day. Toujeo is more concentrated, with 300 units/mL, while Humalog is available in concentrations of 100 units/mL and 200 units/mL. Toujeo is only available as a brand-name medication, whereas Humalog has a lower-cost "copy" called Admelog. Both medications can cause low blood sugar and weight gain, but they differ in their dosing schedules and how quickly they act in the body.

Toujeo

(insulin glargine)

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Humalog

(insulin lispro)

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Summary for Toujeo

Prescription only

Toujeo SoloStar and Toujeo Max SoloStar are a pair of brand names for insulin glargine. It's a long-acting insulin that's used for diabetes in adults and children. This medication is a more concentrated version of insulin glargine containing 300 units/mL. Toujeo (insulin glargine) comes as prefilled pens. You inject the medication under the skin once daily. Side effects include common cold symptoms and low blood sugar.

Indications for Toujeo

Pros and Cons for Toujeo

Pros

Long-lasting insulin that provides consistent, all-day blood sugar control
Given once a day
Available as a prefilled pen
Good choice for people who need high doses of long-acting insulin
Can use in children as young as 6 years old

Cons

Must inject under the skin
Might be hard for some people to administer correctly
Has a risk of causing low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Might cause weight gain
Can't mix with other insulins

Common Side Effects for Toujeo

Warnings for Toujeo

Risk of infections with pen sharing
Risk of changes to blood sugar levels with changes to your insulin regimen
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Low potassium levels
Swelling and heart failure when used with certain diabetes medications
Allergic reactions

Summary for Humalog

Prescription only

Humalog (insulin lispro) is a fast-acting insulin for adults and children with diabetes. It helps prevent and treat high blood sugar from meals. This medication lowers your blood sugar levels by moving the sugar from your blood and into your body. Humalog (insulin lispro) is typically given as an injection under the skin. In certain situations, it's injected into the veins by a healthcare provider. Humalog (insulin lispro) is available as vials and ready-to-use prefilled pens. Side effects include headache and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Indications for Humalog

Type 1 diabetes in adults and children
Type 2 diabetes in adults

Pros and Cons for Humalog

Pros

Starts to work within 15 minutes to lower blood sugar levels
Dose can be easily adjusted to make a treatment plan that's tailored to your specific needs
Available as a prefilled pen for easier and convenient use
Can use at home after proper training
Can use in children as young as 3 years old with Type 1 diabetes

Cons

Given multiple times a day (before each meal)
Must give as an injection
Might be hard for some people to take properly
Risk of low blood sugar
Can cause weight gain

Common Side Effects for Humalog

Type 1 diabetes:

Flu-like symptoms (35%)
Sore throat (33%)
Runny nose (25%)
Headache (30%)
Pain (20%)
Cough (17%)
Infection (14%)

Type 2 diabetes:

Headache (12%)
Pain (11%)
Infection (10%)

Warnings for Humalog

Spread of infections from sharing injection supplies
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Low blood potassium levels
Swelling from fluid buildup and risk of heart failure when taken with certain blood sugar medications
Dangerously high blood sugar levels or buildup of ketones (for people who use insulin pump)