Weekly Insulin Injection Could Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Injections by 86%

A new once-weekly insulin treatment could significantly change how some people with type 2 diabetes manage their condition, after health officials recommended the treatment as a potential alternative to daily insulin injections.

The treatment, known as insulin efsitora alfa and marketed as Onswik, is manufactured by Eli Lilly. It has been recommended in draft guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), subject to regulatory approval.

If it becomes available through the NHS, eligible patients could potentially reduce the number of insulin injections they receive each year from 365 to just 52. That represents a reduction of about 86 per cent in the number of injections.

What is the new weekly insulin treatment?

Insulin efsitora alfa is designed to provide insulin replacement through a single injection once every week. This differs from conventional daily insulin treatment, where patients may need to administer insulin every day to help control their blood glucose levels.

According to the information reported by The Independent, clinical evidence suggests that the weekly treatment can provide blood glucose control comparable with daily insulin injections.

The potential advantage is therefore not simply the medicine itself, but the reduced frequency of treatment. Instead of having to remember an injection every day, eligible patients could potentially have one scheduled injection each week.

For people who find daily injections difficult, that change could make diabetes management less demanding.

Why could fewer injections matter?

Living with type 2 diabetes can involve regular monitoring, medication, appointments and lifestyle adjustments. For people who require insulin, daily injections can become an additional responsibility that must be incorporated into everyday routines.

The impact can be particularly significant for people who require assistance with insulin administration.

NICE highlighted several groups that could potentially benefit from a weekly option. These include people who are frail, individuals with sight loss, those with limited hand movement, people with learning disabilities and patients who have difficulty carrying out the steps involved in insulin administration.

A reduction in injection frequency could also help people who struggle to maintain a consistent treatment routine.

For patients who depend on family members, carers or healthcare professionals for insulin injections, moving from daily treatment to a weekly schedule could reduce the practical burden on everyone involved.

What has NICE recommended?

NICE has issued final draft guidance recommending insulin efsitora alfa for certain people with type 2 diabetes. However, the recommendation does not mean the treatment is immediately available to NHS patients.

The medicine still requires approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The MHRA is responsible for deciding whether medicines meet the required standards for safety, quality and effectiveness before they can be authorised for use in the UK.

Health officials are therefore waiting for the regulator's decision before determining whether the treatment can be introduced more widely through the NHS.

This distinction is important. A NICE recommendation can support decisions about NHS use and cost effectiveness, but regulatory authorisation is a separate step.

What could weekly insulin mean for NHS patients?

If the treatment receives the necessary approval and is subsequently rolled out, weekly insulin could provide another option for people whose type 2 diabetes requires insulin therapy.

NICE medicines evaluation director Helen Knight said that moving from daily injections to a single weekly dose could make a meaningful difference to people's everyday lives, particularly for those who need support from carers, relatives or healthcare professionals.

The change could also potentially save time for healthcare workers and carers who currently help patients manage daily insulin injections.

NHS England national medical director Professor Frankie Swords similarly described weekly insulin as a possible future option for people living with type 2 diabetes. The treatment could give some patients greater flexibility while reducing the number of occasions on which insulin needs to be administered.

However, not everyone with type 2 diabetes will necessarily need or be suitable for insulin, and treatment decisions should continue to be made with healthcare professionals.

Diabetes UK welcomes the recommendation

Diabetes UK also described the recommendation as an important development for people with type 2 diabetes.

Douglas Twenefour, head of clinical at Diabetes UK, said that a weekly insulin option could give some patients greater flexibility in managing their condition.

The organisation also stressed the importance of ensuring that any future NHS rollout is accompanied by clear guidance, appropriate staff training and fair access.

That could be particularly important because diabetes affects people in different ways. A treatment that is convenient for one patient may not be suitable for another.

Healthcare professionals would therefore need to consider individual circumstances before recommending a switch to weekly insulin.

When could weekly insulin become available?

There is currently an important regulatory step still to complete.

Although NICE has recommended insulin efsitora alfa in its draft guidance, the treatment is awaiting a decision from the MHRA. Until regulatory approval is secured, patients should not assume that the medicine is available through the NHS.

If approval is granted, further decisions and implementation arrangements would determine how and when the treatment could be offered.

This means that the potential reduction from 365 injections a year to 52 should be viewed as a possible future development rather than an immediate change for all NHS patients with type 2 diabetes.

A potential change in diabetes care

The prospect of weekly insulin reflects a wider effort to make long-term diabetes treatment easier to manage.

For people who need insulin, reducing injection frequency could simplify daily routines and potentially improve the practical experience of managing their condition. It could be particularly valuable for patients who rely on others for support.

At the same time, effective diabetes care involves more than reducing the number of injections. Patients still need appropriate medical supervision, blood glucose management and personalised treatment plans.

The next major milestone is therefore the MHRA's regulatory decision. If the treatment receives approval and is subsequently introduced by the NHS, weekly insulin could become a significant new option for some people with type 2 diabetes.

Source: The Independent on 20 August 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. The availability, suitability and safety of insulin treatments can vary between individuals. Anyone with type 2 diabetes should speak with their doctor, diabetes specialist or other qualified healthcare professional before changing medication or insulin treatment. The weekly insulin treatment discussed above was reported as awaiting MHRA regulatory approval at the time of publication.