Diabetes Management & Supplies was launched in 1997 by pharmaceutical and medical device industry veteran, Cynthia Pazos. While helping her mother-in-law struggle with complications of diabetes, Cindy learned firsthand of the need for effective diabetes treatment and self-management. The ongoing needs of her mother-in-law convinced Cindy diabetes treatment required a different approach, with the intimate involvement of the patient and continued monitoring and support from care providers and ancillary medical personnel. With these goals in mind, DMS was born. The DMS model is simple: provide appropriate treatment, education and support that will make people with diabetes more effective in the self-management of their disease. DMS's diligence and devotion to patient education and support did not go unnoticed. A PPO owned by several hospitals charged DMS with a large concentration of diabetic patients in a remote area of Louisiana. DMS's efforts in successfully caring for those patients led to spiraling growth of the company and preferred provider status with health plans in Louisiana, Mississippi, and across the southern United States. It pioneered innovative financing alternatives for patients and health plans to ensure no one was forced to forego proper diabetic care. DMS also provided customers with information on managing diabetes, personal benefits consultation, and instruction on the proper use of diabetes equipment.