When is the highest risk of hypoglycemia for patients on insulin glargine?

Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin designed to provide a steady release of insulin over a prolonged period, typically around 24 hours. This characteristic minimizes the fluctuations in insulin levels throughout the day and helps maintain more stable blood glucose levels. Because of its pharmacokinetic profile, insulin glargine does not have a pronounced peak, unlike many other types of insulin, which can lead to a higher risk of hypoglycemia.

As a result, the risk of hypoglycemia is not associated with peaks in insulin activity but instead can occur if there is a mismatch between insulin administration and carbohydrate intake, physical activity, or other factors. Since insulin glargine delivers a consistent level of insulin throughout the day, it is less likely to cause sudden drops in blood glucose compared to short-acting insulins that have distinct peak times. This makes the option indicating that insulin glargine has a consistent level throughout the day the correct choice, as it highlights the important aspect of its action profile in relation to hypoglycemia risk.