- The treatment could reduce insulin injections from 365 a year to just 52.
- NICE has recommended the weekly treatment, but it still needs MHRA approval.
- People who rely on carers or struggle with daily injections could benefit most.
For some people with type 2 diabetes, managing their condition could soon involve one insulin injection a week instead of one every day.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended insulin efsitora alfa, also known as Onswik and made by Eli Lilly, in its final draft guidance. If approved by the medicines regulator and subsequently rolled out on the NHS, the treatment could reduce the number of annual insulin injections from 365 to 52.
That means 313 fewer injections a year.
The difference could be particularly significant for people who find daily injections difficult or rely on someone else to help them. That includes frailer people, those with sight loss or limited hand movement, people with learning disabilities and those who struggle to follow the steps involved in injecting insulin.
For someone who needs a carer, family member or healthcare professional to help with each injection, moving to once a week could also mean fewer appointments, fewer reminders and less time spent planning around treatment.
Less time spent managing injections
Around 4.7 million people in the UK were living with diabetes in 2024-25, with roughly 90 per cent having type 2 diabetes. About one in four people with type 2 diabetes takes insulin.
The condition affects the body's ability to use insulin effectively or produce enough of it, meaning some people need insulin treatment to control their blood sugar levels.
Daily insulin can become part of a person's routine for years. While a single injection may take only a short time, having to remember and prepare for it every day can add another layer to managing a long-term condition.
Douglas Twenefour, head of clinical at Diabetes UK, reportedly said the recommendation could give people with additional care needs greater flexibility and make managing their diabetes easier.
Helen Knight, NICE's director of medicines evaluation, reportedly said moving from daily injections to a weekly dose could make a real difference to the day-to-day lives of people who depend on carers, relatives or healthcare professionals for help.
Professor Frankie Swords, national medical director at NHS England, reportedly said moving from daily to weekly insulin could give people more freedom while also saving valuable time for carers and NHS teams.
The treatment is designed to work as well as daily insulin, while requiring only one injection each week.
Patients still have to wait
The NICE recommendation does not mean the treatment is available on the NHS yet.
Efsitora alfa still needs approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before it can be licensed for use in the UK.
Health officials are waiting for the regulator's decision before determining whether the treatment can be rolled out through the NHS.
NICE guidance applies directly to the NHS in England. Wales often follows its recommendations, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate processes for assessing medicines.
Diabetes UK has also stressed that any NHS rollout would need clear guidance, staff training and fair access so that people who could benefit are able to make informed decisions with their healthcare teams.
If approved and introduced, the biggest change may be a simple one: for some patients, managing insulin could take up far less space in their week — and potentially leave 313 fewer injections to think about each year.
