I’ve been using Lantus as my basal insulin ever since my endo determined in 2013 that I was type 1 rather than the type 2 my original PCP had diagnosed. My current insurance provider informs me that Lantus will no longer be covered under my Medicare Part D plan for 2024. Apparently other companies are making the same change, as there are no longer any companies in my area that cover Lantus. So my choices are Toujeo or Tresiba.
My endo retired over a year ago and I am now having my PCP cover my diabetes needs. For most purposes, that is satisfactory, as I’ve been able to achieve good control without a lot of outside guidance. However, I believe I’m her only type 1, plus I don’t think some of her information is correct.
Since Toujou, like Lantus, is a form of insulin glargine, she thought it might be better to stick with that since it was similar to what had been working for me. However, she seemed to think that Toujou is available as a u-100, which appears to be incorrect. If it is only available as a u-300, do I need to change my dosage? I’ve been injecting 14 units daily of the Lantus. I just had Lantus refilled for 90 days, so I won’t need to actually be dealing with the change until February.
Has anyone tried both Toujeo and Tresiba and discovered any big reasons for a preference?
I have used Lantus recently when I went off the pump and at the beginning of my diabetic journey in 2013. I switched to tresiba a few months ago and am happy I did. It gives me a flatter line it seems. I have never been on the other.
The last few times I took a pump vacation, I used Tresiba as my basal insulin. I found that I did well with Tresiba and learned that it is forgiving with regards to timing. I took it once per day – very convenient.
I can’t compare U300 Toujeo but think that Tresiba is well worth a trial!
Have you reviewed your 2024 plan formulary to see what you other long acting insulin choices are?
My endo had me try to change from Lantus to Toujeo. If I remember correctly you’ll end up taking 1 to 2 units more Toujeo daily. The pens do the dose conversion so you still dial up 14-16 on the pen. The downside of Toujeo compared to Lantus is it takes 6 days of daily dosing for changes to take effect.
Tresiba is my preferred long-lasting. I had used Lantus for about a decade when my insurance removed coverage for Lantus. I switched to Tresiba and for me it is way better.
Lantus never lasted as a 24 hour basal for me - I “split my dose” and took two shots a day.
Tresiba works very well as a basal for me, once a day. My total daily dose did not change when I switched from Lantus.
Note on Toujeo being U-300: Typically this will mean you adjust the dose by 3-unit increments.
It was from a letter from my insurance company about their change in the formulary for the 2024 year that I got the information that the two choices would be Tresiba and Toujeo. I’m not aware of other basal insulins, so couldn’t look up whether a change to another company for next year would give me additional options. Since the last date for making a change of Part D plan is tomorrow, I went ahead and made a plan choice with the same company, but different plan. Since both of those choices are included in my plan, I still have until my 90-day supply of Lantus is used up to have my doctor prescribe Tresiba or Toujeo.
Part D formularies are supposed to be sorted by drug therapeutic class so if you look up Toujeo you should also find Tresiba and any others. According to the ADA other Long acting insulins are Levemir and Basaglar. Generic names are degludec, detemir and glargine.
The letters are computer generated by running a query that returns two drugs in the same therapeutic class as the drug being dropped. There may be others in the formulary. I think medicare only requires the letter mention 2.
Two years ago, my SilverScript drug plan dropped Lantus, so my doctor prescribed Basaglar. I filled the prescription, but truthfully, that is a “back up” should my pump fail, and I never used it. Now I have switched drug plans since this year SilverScript dropped Novolog coverage. So my new plan now covers Novolog, but it does NOT cover Basaglar, suggesting Lantus instead. What goes around, comes around, I guess.
When I went back to MDI I used Tresiba for my basal insulin. For me it didn’t really work well. So I switched to Toujeo. Been working well. I do inject twice a day. Just works for me. My Endo thinks I’m crazy but that’s ok.
I was on Lantus for years, but had to split the dosage because it didn’t last 24 hours. It also had a delayed onset and tended to have a peak before dropping.
My Endo suggested Tresiba and, for me, it is far superior to Lantus. Lasts longer (48 hours), is flat with no 4 hour onset nor drops at 22 hours like Lantus. I also was able to reduce my dosage from 14 units (two 7 unit shots) to one 10 unit shot.
My current MA plan dropped Tresiba for Lantus for 2024, so I changed plans just to be able to obtain Tresiba.
I love Tresiba compared to Lantus. I drop less overnight and in the afternoons. My insurance now doesn’t cover it, so I’m back on Lantus and feeling it. I need less Tresiba compared to Lantus, so I have to beware when switching. It doesn’t enable me to actually give long acting anytime between 8 pm and 8 am like I’d hoped, but I felt like it gave me a smoother background dose than I’d otherwise have and about 4-6 hours of flexibility on when I dosed my nightly basal. Splitting it worked really nicely for me, too. Ah, Tresiba, how I miss you!
Tresiba is the best long insulin I have been on. Unlike Lantus and Levimir which last only 18-24 hours, Tresiba lasts 24-36 hours. I was hospitalized and had problems taking the L’s once a day and going low during the day, taking the L’s twice a day was a problem and I would miss my evening dose. With Tresiba I can take it once a day and not have any of those issues.
Tresiba provides me with a consistent level, unlike earlier basil insulin products. And it should, based on graphs of how fast a dose becomes active and how flat it remains for 24 hours. I have been very happy with Tresiba and recommend it.
I used Lantus for years. I switched to Tresiba several years ago and I love it. I
am starting my 65th year of Type 1 using MDI. My control is very good.
