Short answer: The Lantus label gives one injection under the skin once daily, at any time of day but at the same time every day. In type 1 diabetes it starts at about one-third of total daily insulin, with mealtime insulin for the rest. In type 2 diabetes not already on insulin it starts at 0.2 units/kg or up to 10 units once daily. The label has no missed-dose rule.
This is what the FDA label says. Follow your prescriber. Your prescriber may use a different dose or pace than the label's standard schedule.
What Lantus is approved for: Lantus is a long-acting human insulin analog approved to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with diabetes (section 1). It is not recommended for treating diabetic ketoacidosis.
Source
LANTUS (insulin glargine) injection, for subcutaneous use, prescribing information, Patient Information and Instructions for Use. Sanofi-Aventis U.S.. DailyMed, version published July 2, 2025. DailyMed setid d5e07a0c-7e14-4756-9152-9fea485d654a
Lantus is injected under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or deltoid (upper arm) once daily, rotating sites within the same area. It is not given into a vein or by insulin pump, and not diluted or mixed with other insulins (section 2.1).
It comes as U-100 (100 units/mL) in a 10 mL multiple-dose vial and a 3 mL SoloStar prefilled pen that dials in 1-unit steps (sections 2.1 and 3).
Only clear, colorless Lantus with no visible particles is used (section 2.1).
The table below is the label's schedule, from the Dosage and Administration section. Numbers are copied exactly; the section is in brackets.
| Situation | What the label says |
|---|---|
| When to inject | Once daily at any time of day, but at the same time every day |
| Type 1 diabetes, starting dose | Approximately one-third of the total daily insulin requirements; short-acting premeal insulin for the rest |
| Type 2 diabetes, not on insulin, starting dose | 0.2 units/kg or up to 10 units once daily |
| Switching from once-daily Toujeo (300 units/mL) | 80% of the Toujeo dosage being discontinued |
| Switching from once-daily NPH insulin | Same as the NPH dosage being discontinued |
| Switching from twice-daily NPH insulin | 80% of the total NPH dosage being discontinued |
| Type 1 diabetes | Must be used with short-acting insulin |
| Product | Unopened, refrigerated | Unopened, room temperature (up to 86 F) | Opened (in use) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 mL multiple-dose vial | Until expiration date | 28 days | 28 days, refrigerated or room temperature |
| 3 mL single-patient-use SoloStar prefilled pen | Until expiration date | 28 days | 28 days, room temperature only (do not refrigerate) |
The dose is individualized by metabolic needs, blood glucose results and glucose goal. Changes may be needed with changes in activity, meals, kidney or liver function, or acute illness, and are made only under medical supervision with glucose monitoring.
Glucose is monitored closely when switching to Lantus and during the first weeks after (Highlights, 2.4).
For people with type 2 diabetes, other diabetes medicines may need adjusting when Lantus is started or changed.
Unused Lantus is refrigerated at 2 to 8 C and protected from heat and light; Lantus that has been frozen is thrown away.
The Lantus label gives no missed-dose rule. Neither the prescribing information nor the Patient Information says what to do if a dose is missed; it says Lantus is taken at the same time every day.
More on this: missed a dose of Lantus.
From once-daily Toujeo, Lantus starts at 80% of the Toujeo dose. From once-daily NPH, it starts at the same dose; from twice-daily NPH, at 80% of the total NPH dose. These adjustments are meant to lower the risk of low blood sugar.
In Dose Track you set up Lantus as a protocol with the dose and schedule your prescriber gave you. A protocol can hold dose steps, each with its own dose and length in days or weeks, so a step-up plan like the one on the label can be entered once and the app moves to the next step on its own. Reminders follow the schedule, and every dose is logged with the date and time, so you can see which step you are on and when your last dose was. The app follows what you enter; it does not choose or change a dose.
This page is what the FDA label says, in plain words. It is not medical advice. Follow your prescriber, and ask them or your pharmacist about anything here.