Game-changing jab lets diabetics inject insulin once weekly, instead of daily

READ MORE: Millions on blood pressure drugs are at risk of kidney diseaseSee more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 19:00 EDT, 19 August 2026 | Updated: 19:01 EDT, 19 August 2026 Hundreds of thousands of Britons with type 2 diabetes could soon access a weekly insulin jab that frees them from the rigmarole of daily injections.Drug chiefs have approved a treatment that delivers a far longer-lasting version of the vital hormone, which diabetics lack.Trials show that the jab, called insulin efsitora alfa, stabilises insulin levels as effectively as the daily alternative. Some 4.2 million people in the UK have type 2 diabetes, which develops when insulin in the body - the hormone that converts sugars in food into energy - does not work properly.This leads to dangerously high blood sugars which triggers a range of serious problems, including organ damage.Around one in four type 2 diabetics rely on insulin injections to stabilise blood sugar - with some requiring jabs several times a day. But now, insulin efsitora alfa could change this. The treatment, also known as Onswik and made by Eli Lilly, is said to work as well as daily injections but only needs to be injected once a week. The treatment can be used daily, but is just as effective when used once a week, studies showOfficials said the reduction will particularly benefit people who need help injecting insulin, including frailer people and those with sight loss, limited hand movement and learning disabilities.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has judged the treatment as good value for money, however NHS England is yet to announce plans for a nationwide roll-out.Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: 'Moving from daily injections to a single weekly dose 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.Douglas Twenefour, head of clinical at Diabetes UK, said: 'Any NHS rollout should be supported by clear guidance, staff training and fair access. '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.'Experts recently raised the alarm about a dramatic rise in young people developing type 2 diabetes. According to a 2024 report, the number of patients under 40 has risen by 40 per cent over five years. Last month a major study revealed a 70 per cent jump in the deadly condition among 20-29 year-old women in England over the last decade. Meanwhile, diagnoses in Britons aged between 60 and 79 decreased.The study authors, from Imperial College London, blamed the rise on the UK's ever-expanding waistline. The report also identified that women under 30 have grown larger than any other group since 2011.