Once-Weekly Insulin Icodec Eases Caregiver Burden for Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes, With Rachael Sood, NP-C, CDCES

Older adults with type 2 diabetes often rely on caregivers to assist with medication administration, including basal insulin injections. Daily injections can be challenging in this context, particularly when vision, dexterity, cognition, or caregiver availability are limited. The recently FDA-approved insulin icodec (Awiqli) once-weekly injection may streamline care by consolidating multiple daily decisions into a single, planned event, potentially improving safety and consistency for this vulnerable population.

Weekly dosing can reduce the frequency of self-injection and transform daily self-management into a single supervised visit or caregiver-administered injection. This change may lessen anxiety around insulin use, allow for more robust “teach-back” and return demonstrations in the office, and support closer monitoring in the initial weeks of therapy. At the same time, counseling patients and caregivers on expectations for onset, duration, and titration of a weekly basal product, as well as the need to continue routine glucose monitoring, is still crucial.

In the video above, Rachael Sood, NP-C, CDCES, founder of The Diabetes Collective, explains that once-weekly insulin can simplify conversations about starting or switching to insulin in older adults with type 2 diabetes. She notes that the model of in-clinic demonstration—already familiar from GLP-1 receptor agonist initiation—translates well to Awiqli, allowing clinicians to administer the first dose and observe patient or caregiver technique. Sood underscores that by reducing injections to once weekly, Awiqli may lower psychological resistance to insulin, improve adherence, and make it easier for caregivers to participate consistently in diabetes management for older patients.

References:

1. Novo Nordisk. FDA approves Novo Nordisk's Awiqli®, the first and only once-weekly basal insulin treatment for adults with type 2 diabetes. News release. March 26, 2026. Accessed March 27, 2026. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-approves-novo-nordisks-awiqli-the-first-and-only-once-weekly-basal-insulin-treatment-for-adults-with-type-2-diabetes-302726839.html