Canada’s First Weekly Insulin Shot: A Game Changer for Diabetes

Health Canada has approved a once-weekly insulin injection called Insulin Icodec or “Awiqli” by manufacturer Novo Nordisk. Starting June 30, Canada will become the first country to make the once weekly insulin injection available. It revolutionizes diabetic regimens for patients, replacing their daily basal insulin injections to just once per week. The pens dispense in increments of 10 units from 10-700 units per injection.

Benefits:

It will be more convenient and decrease daily medication burden
Eligible patients with Type 2 diabetes will be able to have the medication reimbursed by CADTH
In 3 RCTs, the once-weekly injection was at least noninferior to the once-daily comparator for changes in Hemoglobin A1C in insulin naive and experienced patients

Considerations:

It replaces other basal insulins but does NOT replace short-acting bolus insulin for Type I diabetic patients
It does have a slightly higher risk of hypoglycemia when compared to daily insulin
Other side effects include allergic reactions, weight gain, leg edema but these were comparable to once daily insulin groups
It is not approved for children and adolescents under age 18 (not studied)
Cannot be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding