Sweet Success Story: How Advocacy and Education Restored Stability for Tammy

When Tammy, a 65-year-old woman living with Type 2 Diabetes, began struggling to access her concentrated insulin, her health quickly became unstable. What started as a pharmacy supply issue soon escalated into severe hyperglycemia, rising insulin requirements, and mounting frustration for both her and her family. 

Through close monitoring, persistent advocacy, and detailed education, the SweetSpot team helped restore her access to the right therapy and stabilize her glucose levels. 

A Sudden Disruption 

Tammy has long-standing Type 2 Diabetes with multiple diabetes-related complications. She uses concentrated insulin through advanced pump therapy and takes a weekly injectable medication as part of her regimen. 

At an in-person office visit in the Fall, Tammy’s Time in Range (TIR) was 60%. However, mid-month, she began experiencing significant issues obtaining insulin due to pharmacy supply shortages and insurance barriers. 

Despite multiple messages between the patient, her daughter, the clinic, and the pharmacy, Tammy was unable to consistently access concentrated insulin. She temporarily transitioned to alternative insulin formulations, necessitating pump recalibration and resulting in a marked increase in insulin requirements. 

By the next month, Tammy's TIR had plummeted to 20%, with 80% of readings in hyperglycemia. Her insulin requirements nearly tripled. Basal rates increased significantly, and bolus activity declined as she rationed insulin and struggled with pump refills. 

The emotional toll was just as significant as the clinical one. 

SweetSpot Steps In 

When I, a SweetSpot Certified Diabetes Specialist, reviewed Tammy’s data that month and noticed this rapid change, it was clear to me that I needed to reach out to her immediately.  

Over the next several weeks I supported Tammy by: 

• Speaking directly with her and her daughter to clarify medication history and refill timing 

• Contacting multiple CVS locations to investigate supply and insurance barriers 

• Coordinating with her provider to redirect the prescription appropriately 

• Confirming mailing logistics and refill frequency 

• Educating Tammy and her family on proper pod fill volumes to prevent early refill denials 

• Providing updated pump settings for multiple insulin concentrations per provider guidance 

This was more than troubleshooting. It was advocacy and collaboration across patient, provider, and pharmacy. 

Clinical Turnaround

Once access to concentrated insulin was restored and refill education reinforced, the improvement was swift. 

• December: TIR 20%, significant hyperglycemia and therapy instability 

• January: TIR 74%, rapid recovery following intervention 

• February: TIR 66%, sustained stability and improved self-management 

Within weeks, Tammy's glucose patterns stabilized. She was no longer rationing insulin. She resumed appropriate bolusing. Her insulin requirements dropped back to baseline. Most importantly, she regained confidence in managing her therapy. 

Her daughter expressed gratitude for the intervention, noting the emotional relief that came with finally resolving the insulin chaos. 

What Made the Difference 

What made the biggest difference in Tammy’s story was advocacy and collaboration. 

This case highlights how quickly glycemic health can deteriorate when patients lose access to concentrated insulin, particularly those on advanced pump therapy. It also demonstrates how proactive monitoring and coordinated intervention can reverse that decline. 

SweetSpot’s model allowed: 

• Rapid identification of clinical need through CGM data 

• Direct outreach before complications escalated further 

• Pharmacy navigation expertise 

• Pump education and refill strategy coaching 

• True extension-of-clinic support between visits 

Once medication access and bolus habits were restored, Tammy's TIR rebounded above ADA-recommended targets, and insulin needs normalized. 

The Bigger Picture 

Tammy's story reflects the power of continuous oversight paired with human intervention. Data alone does not fix problems. Advocacy, education, and coordinated care do. When patients feel supported, and when someone is actively watching for instability, outcomes improve. 

If you’d like to see how SweetSpot can help protect your patients from gaps in care like this, reach out to 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.