A once-weekly long-acting insulin for diabetes
Insulin icodec
A long-acting insulin injected once a week to provide steady background blood-sugar control in diabetes.
What is Insulin icodec?
Insulin icodec is a long-acting insulin that is injected just once a week, rather than daily, to provide steady background control of blood sugar in people with diabetes. It works like the body's own background insulin, helping the body's cells take in sugar from the blood. Because a single injection lasts a whole week, the most important point is not to confuse it with daily insulins, as taking it too often could cause dangerously low blood sugar. The main side effect is low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), which can last longer given the weekly action; weight gain and changes at injection sites can also occur.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Insulin icodec — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Insulin icodec is a long-acting (basal) insulin that is given as an injection under the skin once a week. Insulin is the hormone that lets the body's cells take sugar (glucose) from the blood to use for energy; in diabetes the body either does not make enough insulin or cannot use it properly, so blood sugar rises. Insulin icodec provides a steady, background level of insulin across the whole week from a single injection, helping keep blood-sugar levels under control between meals and overnight. It is used as part of a wider diabetes treatment plan under medical supervision.
How it works
Insulin icodec is designed to be released slowly and steadily after a single weekly injection, so it provides a constant background level of insulin for around seven days. Like the body's own background insulin, it helps the body's cells take in glucose from the blood and stops the liver from releasing too much sugar, keeping levels steadier between meals and overnight. Because one dose covers a whole week, its effect builds up and is long-lasting, which is convenient but also means that any low blood sugar can last longer and that the weekly timing must be followed carefully.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Specialist manufacturer.
A long-acting insulin used in the UK that is injected once a week to help control blood sugar in people with diabetes.
What it treats
Conditions Insulin icodec is used for
Practical use
How to take Insulin icodec
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Inject it under the skin once a week, on the same day each week, exactly as your team has shown you.
- Never confuse it with a daily insulin or take it more often than weekly, as this could cause dangerously low blood sugar.
- Rotate your injection sites (for example tummy, thigh or upper arm) to avoid lumps or dents in the skin.
- Learn to recognise and treat low blood sugar, and carry a fast-acting sugar source with you.
- Follow your team's advice on what to do if you miss a dose and on checking your blood sugar.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Insulin icodec
Advantages
- Provides steady, week-long background blood-sugar control from just one injection a week.
- Far fewer injections than daily basal insulin, which many people find more convenient.
- Works like the body's own background insulin to keep levels steadier between meals and overnight.
Disadvantages
- Can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), which may last longer because the insulin acts over a whole week.
- Must not be confused with daily insulins, as taking it too often could be dangerous.
- Can cause weight gain and changes at injection sites, such as lumps or dents.
Practical use
Good to know
The single most important safety point with insulin icodec is that it is a once-WEEKLY insulin and must never be confused with daily insulins: because each injection lasts a whole week, accidentally taking it daily, or stacking it with another long-acting insulin, could cause dangerously low blood sugar. It helps to inject it on the same day each week and to keep a clear note of when it is due. As with all insulins, the main risk is hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), with symptoms such as shakiness, sweating, hunger and confusion; with a weekly insulin a low can be more prolonged, so knowing how to treat it and carrying a fast sugar source matters. Weight gain and changes where you inject (such as lumps or dents) can also occur, so rotating injection sites helps. Your team will explain how to manage missed doses and how it fits with your other diabetes medicines.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People who have had a serious allergic reaction to insulin icodec should not use it.
- It is not suitable for treating very high blood sugar emergencies, where fast-acting insulin is needed instead.
- It is used with particular care, and adjusted, in people prone to low blood sugar and in those with changing insulin needs, under medical guidance.
Monitoring
- Checking blood-sugar levels and longer-term control (such as HbA1c) to guide the dose.
- Watching for episodes of low blood sugar, which can be more prolonged with a weekly insulin.
- Reviewing injection sites and overall diabetes treatment over time.
Side effects
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), which can be more prolonged with a weekly insulin.
- Weight gain.
- Changes where you inject, such as lumps, dents or redness, and occasionally swelling that can settle as blood sugar improves.
Key interactions
- Many medicines can raise or lower blood sugar, so tell your team about all your medicines, as your insulin may need adjusting.
- Alcohol can make low blood sugar more likely and longer-lasting, so seek advice on safe use.
- Other diabetes medicines are balanced with it to avoid blood sugar going too low.
Available as: A solution for injection under the skin, given once a week.
Answers
Insulin icodec: frequently asked questions
What is insulin icodec used for?
It is a long-acting insulin injected once a week to provide steady background blood-sugar control in people with diabetes, helping the body's cells take sugar from the blood.
How is it different from other insulins?
It is given just once a week rather than daily, so a single injection lasts a whole week; it must never be confused with daily insulins or taken more often.
What happens if I take it too often?
Because each dose lasts a week, taking it daily or stacking it with another long-acting insulin could cause dangerously low blood sugar, so it must only be used once weekly.
Can it cause low blood sugar?
Yes; as with all insulins the main risk is hypoglycaemia, and because it acts over a whole week a low can last longer, so know how to treat it and carry a fast sugar source.
What should I do if I miss my weekly dose?
Follow the specific advice your team gives you for missed doses; do not simply double up, and contact your team if you are unsure.
The wider class
About Long-acting insulin (once weekly)
Insulin icodec belongs to the long-acting insulin (once weekly) class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
Browse by body system
Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
Building a medicines information resource?
We create evidence-led, dose-free drug and formulary references for teams.