Weekly insulin injection is now available in India. Novo Nordisk launched Awiqli (insulin icodec) on 9 July 2026, and at a starting dose of 70 units a week it costs about Rs 261 a week. That is 52 injections a year instead of 365.
If you or someone at home takes insulin, you know the routine. Same time, every night, one more jab. So a once a week insulin is big news. Here is what it is, what it costs, and the honest part about who should and should not switch.
Key Takeaways
- Awiqli is a once a week basal insulin. It replaces your long-acting background insulin, not your mealtime insulin.
- Launch price: Rs 2,611 for the 700-unit pen and Rs 7,833 for the 2,100-unit pen, about Rs 3.73 per unit.
- At 70 units a week, the cost is about Rs 261 a week, or roughly Rs 37 a day. Your own dose may be higher or lower.
- In India it is approved for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In the US the approval covers type 2 only.
- Low blood sugar is the main risk. A wrong dose also stays in your body for a week, so start under your doctor’s guidance.
What Is Once a Week Insulin?
Awiqli is a basal insulin. That is the long-acting “background” insulin that keeps your sugar steady between meals and overnight. Drugs like glargine and degludec do this job today with a daily shot.
The difference is how long it lasts. Insulin icodec binds to albumin, a protein in your blood, and is released slowly over the whole week. So you inject once a week, on the same day each week.
It does not replace mealtime (fast-acting) insulin. If you take a shot before meals, that part stays the same.
Is Weekly Insulin Approved in India?
Yes. In India, Awiqli is approved for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who need insulin. In the US, the FDA approved it on 26 March 2026 as the first once-weekly basal insulin, for adults with type 2 diabetes only. It is also approved in the European Union and several other countries. India is the seventh country where it has launched.
The type 2 approval rests on the ONWARDS trials, which compared weekly icodec with daily basal insulins such as glargine and degludec. The type 2 programme alone included about 2,680 adults.
Weekly Insulin Price in India
This is what most people are searching for, so here it is plainly, based on the launch prices Novo Nordisk announced in July 2026:
| Pack | Units | Launch price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ml FlexTouch pen | 700 units | Rs 2,611 |
| 3 ml FlexTouch pen | 2,100 units | Rs 7,833 |
| Cost per unit | 1 unit | about Rs 3.73 |
| Typical starting dose | 70 units a week | about Rs 261 a week (about Rs 37 a day) |
At 70 units a week, the smaller pen lasts about 10 weeks.
How does it compare with daily insulin? Novo Nordisk says other modern insulin analogues cost roughly Rs 345 to Rs 453 a week. That is the company’s own comparison, so treat it as a guide and check current prices at your chemist.
One caveat matters. Your dose may not be 70 units. If you already take a higher daily dose, your weekly dose will be higher too, and so will the weekly cost. Ask your doctor to work out your number before comparing prices.
Who Is the Weekly Insulin Injection Good For?
Weekly insulin makes the most sense for a few kinds of people:
- People with type 2 diabetes starting insulin for the first time who dread daily injections
- Elderly parents who need a family member or nurse to give the shot, since once a week is far easier to manage
- People who often miss or forget their daily dose
- Anyone who travels a lot or has an unpredictable routine
Many people in India stay on tablets for years before starting insulin, and fear of injections is one reason. If the daily jab is what made you put insulin off, a weekly option changes the maths.
Who Should Be More Careful?
It is not automatically right for everyone.
- Type 1 diabetes: In trials, people with type 1 diabetes on icodec had more low-sugar episodes than those on daily insulin. This is why the US approval covers type 2 only. Many doctors will be cautious here, so talk it through in detail first.
- Frequent hypos or very fluctuating sugars: Low blood sugar is the most common side effect of any insulin, and this one acts for a full week.
- Mistakes last longer: An extra or wrong dose cannot be quietly corrected by skipping tomorrow’s shot. The US label warns of serious low blood sugar from mix-ups between Awiqli, other insulins and other once-weekly injectables. Always read the pen label before every injection.
These are the reasons to start under supervision and to check your sugar more often in the first few weeks.
How to Switch From Daily to Once a Week Insulin
Do not stop your daily insulin and start the weekly one on your own. Your doctor will convert your dose. In general:
- The first weekly dose is taken the day after your last daily basal shot.
- The first week usually has a higher dose to help your blood levels catch up. As an example from the US label, someone on 10 units of daily basal insulin gets 110 units in week 1, then 70 units in week 2. From there your doctor adjusts the dose based on your readings.
- People with type 2 diabetes who have never taken insulin typically start at 70 units a week, then adjust on fasting sugar readings.
Check your sugar more often for the first few weeks after switching. Your doctor will set your exact numbers, and these may differ slightly from the examples above.
How to Take Weekly Insulin
- Pick one day and stick to it, for example Sunday morning.
- Use the pre-filled FlexTouch pen and inject under the skin of the belly, thigh or upper arm. Rotate the spot each week.
- If you miss a dose, do not double up. Take it as soon as you notice and call your doctor. The exact rule varies by approved label: the US label says to take it within 4 days, while the European label uses 3 days before the schedule day shifts. Follow the leaflet in your pack and your doctor’s advice.
- Store unused pens in the fridge, never the freezer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the price of weekly insulin in India?
At launch, the 700-unit pen costs Rs 2,611 and the 2,100-unit pen costs Rs 7,833. At a common starting dose of 70 units, that is about Rs 261 a week. Your actual cost depends on your dose.
Is once a week insulin better than daily insulin?
In trials it lowered HbA1c about as well as daily basal insulin in type 2 diabetes. The main advantage is convenience: 52 shots a year instead of 365. It is not a stronger insulin, and low blood sugar still needs watching.
Can type 1 diabetics take weekly insulin?
It is approved in India for adults with type 1 diabetes, but low-sugar episodes were more common in type 1 trials, and the US has not approved it for type 1. Discuss it in detail with your endocrinologist before switching.
Do I still need mealtime insulin?
Yes, if you take it now. Weekly insulin only replaces your long-acting background insulin.
Where can I buy weekly insulin injection in India?
It is a prescription medicine. You can get it from chemists and online pharmacies with a valid prescription.
Can I switch to weekly insulin on my own?
No. The dose has to be converted from your current insulin, and your sugars need closer monitoring for the first weeks. Switch only with your doctor’s plan.
The Bottom Line
A weekly insulin injection will not suit everyone, but for many people with type 2 diabetes it turns a daily chore into a weekly habit, at a starting cost that the company says is lower than many daily insulins. If injections are the thing holding you back, it is worth asking about at your next visit.
Not sure if weekly insulin is right for you? Dr. Sunil M Jain and the team at TOTALL Diabetes Hormone Institute, Indore, can review your sugar readings and plan the safest switch. Book an appointment
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Do not start, stop or change insulin without your doctor’s guidance.
Sources
- US FDA, Awiqli Prescribing Information (2026): accessdata.fda.gov
- European Medicines Agency, Awiqli EPAR: ema.europa.eu
- Reuters, Novo Nordisk launches weekly insulin shot Awiqli in India (9 July 2026): reuters.com
- Business Today, Novo Nordisk launches once-weekly insulin at Rs 261 a week (9 July 2026): businesstoday.in
- Medical Dialogues, FDA approves once weekly insulin icodec for type 2 diabetes (30 March 2026): medicaldialogues.in
