06/02/2025
Game-Changer in Diabetes Management.
Basal insulin once weekly instead of daily
Awiqli is a brand name for insulin icodec, an ultralong-acting basal insulin analogue developed by Novo Nordisk. It's designed for once-weekly subcutaneous injections to help manage blood glucose levels in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Awiqli provides steady, long-lasting insulin activity with a half-life of ~196 hours, helping to control blood glucose levels throughout the week.
Dosage & Administration
Starting Dose: 70 U once weekly (subcutaneous).
The FlexTouch pen delivers doses in 10-unit increments and can deliver up to 700 units in a single injection. If the required dose is >700 units, the dose should be split into 2 injections
Switching from Daily Basal Insulin? Convert to an equivalent total weekly dose
Multiply the previous daily basal insulin dose by 7 and round to the nearest 10 units (eg, a daily basal insulin dose of 35 units corresponds to a weekly insulin icodec dose of 250 units). Administer first insulin icodec dose on the day following the last dose of previous basal insulin and administer subsequent doses once weekly.
Missed a Dose? Take it within 3 days, otherwise skip and resume the regular schedule
Dosage adjustment for glycemic control: Increase or decrease weekly dose (eg, in 20-unit increments every 1 to 2 weeks) to maintain glucose in target range!
the maximal glucose-lowering effect of insulin icodec occurs during days 2 to 4 following each weekly injection.
Once-weekly basal insulin icodec as compared to once-daily basal insulin analogs had a slight increase in the risk of overall hypoglycemia and weight gain, without any difference in severe hypoglycemia, with similar glycemic control (in terms of fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, and TIR).
It has been approved to use in canada but not in the USA yet.
: National Library of Medicine, US