Sweet Success Story: How a SweetSpot CDCES Helped Emma Improve Her Time in Range and Feel Seen

When you work in diabetes care, you quickly learn that numbers only tell part of the story. Behind every spike or drop in glucose is a person with routines, challenges, and choices — and sometimes, a whole lot of resistance. 

Emma* was one of those people. 

*patient name changed

She’s in her early 30s, lives with type 2 diabetes, and has faced more than her fair share of challenges. After undergoing weight-loss surgery, she developed some ongoing complications that made it difficult to stick to a consistent routine. She also takes several daily medications. Her life is full, stressful, and often unpredictable.

As a SweetSpot Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), I partner closely with providers to offer remote care for their patients using CGMs and insulin pumps. I review patients' diabetes device data every month, suggest any treatment adjustments if needed, and keep in touch with patients to help them stay on track between visits. I love seeing real change over time — and Emma’s story is one I won’t forget.

When We First Connected: Stubbornness, Safety, and Earning Trust  

From the start, it was clear that Emma valued her independence. She sometimes made changes to her insulin without checking her glucose, brushed off low readings as nothing serious, and did not wear her CGM consistently. When I brought up potential adjustments to her insulin plan, she responded confidently, “I’ve got this.” 

Still, I saw the potential — and the risk. Her data revealed serious overnight lows and unpredictable highs, often tied to how she timed her insulin and late-night snacking. She was also taking Fiasp after meals instead of before, as well as mixing her medications with sweet drinks like cola before bed. It was a recipe for major glucose swings. 

I knew I couldn’t push too hard too fast. So I listened. I empathized. I kept our goals simple and focused on safety. 

One Step at a Time: Building Momentum 

The first change I recommended was gradually reducing Fiasp. Each change took patience and follow-up. 

I also encouraged her to take the rapid-acting insulin before meals instead of after — something that’s extra tricky for someone dealing with post-surgery nausea and emesis. Still, she gave it a shot. 

Meanwhile, I kept reviewing her CGM reports and checking in. When I noticed elevated readings every night around the same time, I traced it back to the sugary drinks she was using to take her daily medications. She agreed to try switching to sugar-free options during the day — and saw the difference almost immediately. 

The Wins Started Adding Up  

With every check-in, Emma grew more open. We celebrated small wins — like switching sodas and getting her CGM back on — and tackled new challenges as they came up.

By mid-May, her Time in Range had improved by 10%, and she had cut her hypoglycemia nearly in half. She stopped correcting post-snack highs with extra insulin, which had been causing those dangerous early-morning lows. Her variability improved, her insulin needs decreased, and she began checking her blood glucose more consistently. 

The best moment? She called me after an appointment with her endocrinologist to let me know how impressed he was by the progress she’s made since her last visit. 

Why This Progress Mattered  

Before SweetSpot’s monitoring and coaching, Emma wasn’t just struggling with diabetes — she was at real risk. Her patterns of hypoglycemia could have led to emergency care or hospitalization. But with regular follow-up, gentle nudges, and time to build trust, we turned things around. 

Emma didn’t need a new prescription or a hospital stay. She needed support that fit her life: someone to break it down, meet her where she was, and stay in her corner week after week. That’s exactly what SweetSpot’s remote diabetes monitoring program provided — consistent, compassionate follow-up that made a real difference. And it worked. 

Today, she’s spending nearly 80% of her time in range. She’s making smarter decisions about food, timing her insulin better, and following her care plan more closely than ever before. And most importantly, she knows she’s capable. 

Support That Meets Patients Where They Are

Emma’s journey shows what’s possible when patients receive consistent, compassionate support between visits. With proactive data monitoring and personalized outreach, SweetSpot helps patients like Emma stay safe, engaged, and on track, even when life gets messy.

Want to learn how SweetSpot can help your patients feel more supported and achieve better outcomes with CGM and pump technology? Reach out to us at info@sweetspot.health.

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SweetSpot partners with endocrinology practices to provide virtual CGM monitoring and enhanced patient care.

SweetSpot combines a centralized software platform for managing diabetes device data, such as data from CGMs and insulin pumps, with wrap-around clinical support services. SweetSpot’s virtual team of Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES) performs monthly CGM data reviews and coordinates with providers and patients to facilitate treatment plan changes. By actively managing and remotely reviewing CGM data between patient visits, we ensure patients receive timely treatment adjustments to improve glycemic control and patient outcomes.

Additionally, SweetSpot’s automated capture of reimbursable care events optimizes CPT code utilization, unlocking new revenue streams for practices and making our partnerships both clinically effective and financially profitable.