Once-Weekly Insulin Is Here: Awiqli® Launches for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

On Thursday, August 11, 2026, Novo Nordisk announced the launch of Awiqli®, a once-weekly long-acting (basal) insulin for adults living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) that received FDA approval earlier this year. 

Why once-weekly insulin is a game changer

Until now, long acting insulins needed to be injected daily with effects lasting up to 42 hours. For many people remembering to take insulin once a day is easy, but for others it can be challenging. Pair that with the hundreds of other diabetes decisions people with diabetes (PWD) make each day and well, you get it. Diabetes burnout! In fact, A 2024 International Diabetes Federation (IDF) survey found that 79 percent of people living with diabetes have experienced burnout.

Enter once-weekly basal insulin, Awiqil! Awiqli insulin can stay in the body for a long time. It was built using a unique protein structure that the body breaks down and uses slowly over about a week.  

Tom Scales, Senior Vice President of Market Access & Public Affairs and Patient Support Solutions at Novo Nordisk shared in a recent press release “As the only once-weekly basal insulin available in the US, Awiqli® reduces the frequency of daily basal injections from seven to one per week.” Clinical studies support simplifying treatment regimens for adults with type 2 diabetes. “By offering a once-weekly dosing profile delivered via the prefilled FlexTouch® pen, Awiqli® may help patients with a basal insulin routine that feels more manageable.”

How Awiqli® works

Awiqli is an ultra-long-acting insulin that comes as a FlexTouch pen containing 700 units of insulin/mL. It’s used to manage blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It’s injected under the skin just once a week.

Awiqli starts to lower your blood sugar within a few hours after you take it. It helps keep your blood sugar steady every day for a full week. Once you’ve been taking it for about 3 weeks, you should see its full effects. 

Potential side effects of once week Awiqli®

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), especially for those taking other glucose lowering medications

Insulin, no matter the type, carries a risk of hypoglycemia. Insulin’s job is to move sugar from your blood into your cells for energy, so it makes sense. To get ahead of this risk, work with your healthcare team. Key to success are things like taking the right dose at the right time, eating regularly, and having a plan for treating low blood sugar if it should happen. 

• Injection site reactions (redness, swelling, pain, bruising, etc.), swelling in the leg, ankle, or arm, and weight gain

Be sure to talk to your healthcare team if you experience any of these less common side effects. 

How to get once-weekly insulin, Awiqli

Awiqli® must be prescribed by a healthcare provider. At your next healthcare visit, ask about Awiqli®. If you live with T2D and are already taking a long acting insulin, it could be an easy swap.

Awiqli is available at over 70,000 pharmacies in the United States and is covered by most insurance plans. If your out of pocket cost is high, Novo Nordisk has affordability programs you may qualify for. 

Want to learn more about managing type 2 diabetes? Check out the Beyond Diagnosis Guide and  join a community of folks who understand what it’s like. Be a part of our Community Apps.

This content mentions Novo Nordisk, an active partner of Beyond Type 1 at the time of publication. Beyond Type 1 retains full editorial control.