Insulin icodec: A once-weekly basal insulin on the horizon for diabetes management with implications for hospital care transitions

Once-weekly basal insulin brings with it the promise of reduced treatment burden and the potential to usher in a new era of diabetes care. Practical guidance is needed for this paradigm shift in insulin administration in real-world hospital settings. This narrative review summarizes efficacy and safety findings on the once-weekly basal insulin icodec from the ONWARDS global clinical trial program, relying on both systematic reviews and meta-analyses. We rely primarily on clinical trial data, which includes some limited real-world hospital data. We explore the potential opportunities for enhanced, long-acting insulin to facilitate the care of hospitalized patients and avoid hypoglycemia, as well as optimize care continuum goals, all important management strategies for hospital medicine physicians.