Insulin Glargine (Lantus)
Insulin glargine (Lantus, Basaglar, Toujeo) is a long-acting basal insulin analogue giving a flat ~24-hour profile. Some bodybuilders use it for continuous nutrient partitioning, but its long, non-reversible action makes any hypoglycaemia protracted and especially dangerous.
01 Overview
Glargine is engineered to precipitate at physiologic pH after injection, dissolving slowly to give a peakless 24-hour release. It is an approved, extensively studied basal insulin for diabetes.
A minority of physique users add basal insulin for round-the-clock anabolic signalling, but this is high-risk: once injected, the long action cannot be undone, and a hypoglycaemic episode can persist for many hours and recur overnight. The reward-to-risk ratio for non-diabetic use is poor and deaths have occurred.
02 Mechanism
Binds the insulin receptor to promote glucose uptake, glycogen and protein synthesis and suppress lipolysis and gluconeogenesis; microprecipitation at injection site produces a slow, peakless ~24-hour absorption.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (off-label) | 5–10 IU/day | SubQ | Long action is irreversible; extreme caution |
| Diabetic basal | 10–40 IU/day | SubQ | Once daily; individualised; medical use only |
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continuous anabolic signallingProvides a steady low-level insulin backdrop supporting nutrient uptake through the day. | Clinical | ||
| Improved carbohydrate toleranceBasal coverage lowers fasting and between-meal glucose. | Clinical |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight/fat gainAdipose gain from chronic insulin exposure and increased appetite. | Mild | Common | Clinical | |
| Protracted hypoglycaemiaBecause action lasts ~24 hours, a low cannot be reversed by stopping the drug and can recur, including overnight, risking seizure, coma or death. | Life-threatening | Common in misuse | Clinical |