The UK may soon offer a once-weekly insulin injection for many people with type 2 diabetes, potentially reducing annual injections by about 86% and easing daily care for those who need assistance. NICE has recommended the treatment, but it still requires MHRA licensing before it can be prescribed on the NHS. Diabetes UK and NICE say the weekly option could improve quality of life and help patients who rely on carers or struggle with daily regimens.
Once-Weekly Insulin Jab Could Replace Daily Injections For Many With Type 2 Diabetes, NICE Recommends
A weekly jab could cut the number of injections needed by 86% [Getty Images]
Hundreds of thousands of people with type 2 diabetes in the UK could soon be offered a once-weekly insulin injection that may replace daily injections for many patients and cut the number of injections given each year by about 86%.
Clinical trials indicate the weekly preparation performs comparably to daily insulin therapy while requiring only one injection per week. However, the treatment still needs formal licensing from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before it can be prescribed on the NHS.
The charity Diabetes UK says a weekly option could make diabetes management easier for people who need extra support, particularly those who rely on carers or family members to give injections.
Official data show that about 4.7 million people in the UK were living with diabetes in 2024–25, and roughly 90% of them had type 2 diabetes. Diabetes UK estimates that around one in four people with type 2 diabetes currently uses insulin as part of their treatment.
Moving from daily injections to a weekly jab is likely to help patients who require assistance with dosing and administration. That group includes frailer adults, people with sight loss, individuals with limited hand movement, and people with learning disabilities. It may also benefit those who struggle to follow the multi-step routine of daily injections or to adhere consistently to a daily regimen.
Douglas Twenefour, Head of Clinical at Diabetes UK, said: "For some, especially those with additional care needs, moving from daily insulin injections to a once-weekly option could help manage their diabetes more easily and improve quality of life. It's essential that everyone who could benefit is supported by their healthcare team to make informed decisions, and that this treatment helps reduce inequities in diabetes care."
Helen Knight, Director of Medicines Evaluation at NICE, said the recommendation could make a "real difference to the day-to-day lives of people with type 2 diabetes, especially those who rely on a carer, family member or healthcare professional to help them inject." She added that the decision followed rigorous, evidence-based consideration and sought to balance patient benefits with prudent use of NHS resources.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance recommending the treatment for use on the NHS in England. Before NHS prescribing can begin, the MHRA must licence the medication. Health officials say they are awaiting the MHRA's decision to determine whether the treatment can be rolled out nationally.
Guidance from NICE applies directly to NHS services in England; Wales commonly follows NICE recommendations, although adoption is not automatic across all UK nations. In Northern Ireland, NICE guidance is reviewed by the Department of Health, and in Scotland decisions on new medicines are handled by the Scottish Medicines Consortium.
Separate NHS briefings have also highlighted a rise in type 2 diabetes among younger women in their 20s and ongoing discussions about offering additional weight-loss medications as part of diabetes care.
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