What the Approval of Awiqli Means for Patients With Diabetes

A new development in diabetes care is offering hope for simpler treatment routines. On March 26, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Awiqli (insulin icodec-abae), the first once-weekly basal insulin for adults with Type 2 diabetes. According to Rachael Sood, a nurse practitioner and founder of The Diabetes Collective, this innovation could meaningfully reduce the daily burden many patients face.

Managing Type 2 diabetes often involves constant decision-making: when to take medication, how much insulin to use and how to adjust doses based on blood sugar levels. For patients on traditional daily basal insulin, this can mean making dosing decisions every single day. Sood explains that a once-weekly option like Awiqli may simplify that process significantly, reducing it to just one decision per week. This shift could help ease the mental load that comes with managing a chronic condition.

The approval of Awiqli was based on clinical trials showing it effectively lowers A1c levels, with a safety profile similar to that of daily basal insulin. While it still carries risks such as low blood sugar, weight gain and injection-site reactions, it represents a new option that can be tailored to individual patient needs.

Sood emphasizes that insulin remains an important part of care for many people with Type 2 diabetes, especially as the body’s ability to produce insulin declines over time. However, there is a common misconception that insulin is only for certain patients or only used as a last resort. In reality, many patients benefit from insulin therapy but may hesitate to start due to fear, stigma or the complexity of daily injections.

This is where a once-weekly option could make a difference. For patients who are anxious about needles or overwhelmed by the idea of injecting daily, reducing the frequency to once a week may feel more manageable. Some patients even rely on family members to help with injections, and a weekly schedule could make that support easier to coordinate.

Sood also notes that this option may be particularly helpful for patients who cannot tolerate other diabetes medications or who should avoid additional weight loss. She sees once-weekly insulin as a step toward more personalized, patient-centered care — helping people manage their condition in a way that better fits their lives.