Here’s to a Healthy You in ‘22

The care teams at Wellstar are dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of everyone we serve, and we thank our team members for their commitment to world-class care. We also thank Cobb residents for trusting the expertise of Wellstar to keep their families healthy and provide them with more than healthcare, PeopleCare.
Several Wellstar team members have been voted among the Best of Cobb:

• Bruce Alayof, MD
  Wellstar Center for Cardiovascular Care
  Best Cardiac/Vascular Specialist, Second Place


• Kyle Brown
  Wellstar Health Place
  Best Personal Trainer, Second Place


• Ryan Breshears, PhD
  Wellstar Clinical Psychology
  Best Psychologist, Second Place


• Ryan Cantwell, MD
  Wellstar Internal Medicine
  Best Family Physician, First Place
  Best General Practice Doctor, Second Place


• Kozue Cunningham
  Wellstar Health Place
  Best Massage Therapist, First Place


• Diedre Greene, MD
  Wellstar Pediatrics
  Best Pediatrician, Second Place


• Amy Gross
  Wellstar Outpatient Rehabilitation
  Best Physical Therapist, First Place


• Ashish Kapila, DPM
  Wellstar Podiatry
  Best Podiatry, Third Place


• Amy Kewin, MD
  Wellstar Pediatrics
  Best Pediatrician, First Place


• Keisha McClure
  Wellstar Health Place
  Best Massage Therapist, Third Place


• Eduardo Molinary, MD
  Wellstar Pulmonary Medicine
  Best Pulmonary Medicine, Third Place


• David Parks, MD
  Wellstar ENT
  Best ENT Specialist, First Place


• Dhaval Patel, MD
  Wellstar Center for Cardiovascular Care
  Best Cardiac/Vascular Specialist, Third Place


• Daniel Saade, MD
  Wellstar Pediatrics
  Best Pediatrician, Third Place


• Carolyn Smallwood, DO
  Wellstar Primary Care
  Best General Practice Doctor, First Place
  Best Family Physician, Second Place


• Randall Webb, MD
  Wellstar OB/GYN
  Best OB/GYN, Third Place


• Wellstar Atherton Place
  Senior Living and Memory Care
  Best Nursing Home, Third Place


• Wellstar Health Place
  Best Fitness Center/Gym, First Place


• Wellstar Health Place
  Best Yoga/Barre/Pilates Studio, Third Place


• Wellstar Health Place
  A Healthier You- Medical Fitness
  Best Weight Loss Clinic, Third Place


• Wellstar Pediatrics at 3707 Largent Way
  Best Pediatric Group, First Place


• Wellstar Pediatrics at 760 Kennesaw Avenue
  Best Pediatric Group, Second Place


• Wellstar Pediatrics at 121 Marble Mill Road
  Best Pediatric Group, Third Place

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes. Of that group, 90-95% have type 2 diabetes. Because this condition often develops in people over 45, getting screened and getting the best treatment to live your healthiest life is essential.

"Diabetes is a chronic and complex condition, and treatments are continuously changing," said Georgia A Forrest, Wellstar primary care physician. "Teaming up with a primary care provider who personalizes your care plan to you and everything that makes you unique should be a top priority."

Whether you currently have type 2 diabetes, a family history of the disease or feel concerned about your overall well-being, you can take proactive steps to manage your health. Here are some key facts to help you better understand the relationship between diabetes and good health.

1. Undiagnosed diabetes costs you money & health
Not knowing you have diabetes carries high medical costs. Undiagnosed diabetes can increase your risk for death and other medical issues.

Diabetes was the eighth leading cause of death in 2021, the most recent data reported by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force. And according to the American Diabetes Association, having diabetes doubles your risk for heart disease and stroke — heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. 

2. A diagnosis and personalized treatment can save your life
Knowing you have diabetes and then working to manage your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol effectively can lower your risk of death and help you live a better quality of life.

3. Getting screened for diabetes is easy
The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force now recommends getting screened with a simple blood test at the age of 35 for people with no symptoms but who are overweight or obese. Even if you have no signs or family history of diabetes, it can lurk in your numbers. Getting screened can help you catch it early and even prevent it altogether.

Consider getting screened for diabetes if you:

• Are obese or overweight
• Are physically inactive 
• Have a parent or full sibling with diabetes
• Are an African American, Latino, Native American, Asian American or Pacific Islander 
• Have a history of cardiovascular disease
• Have hypertension
• Have blood work that shows an HDL of less than 35 mg/dl or triglycerides greater than 250 mg/dl
• Have a diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Have other medical conditions that lead to insulin resistance

4. Some people have pre-diabetes
If your screening shows that you have pre-diabetes, your blood sugar levels run higher than average but aren't within the range of type 2 diabetes. However, you have an increased risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

Identifying that diabetes is around the corner can help you stop it before it starts.

5. Diabetes treatment plans should be unique
When crafting a plan to address diabetes, the conversation must be about more than the numbers.

"Additional diseases or conditions you may be experiencing in conjunction with your diabetes should also become part of your individualized health plan," Dr. Forrest said.

A complete medical history helps your healthcare provider understand how other medications and treatments may interact with your symptoms and treatments related to type 2 diabetes.

6. Lifestyle modifications can make a big impact on diabetes
Lifestyle modifications may involve slight changes to your weight, the amount of exercise you get, your diet and even your sleeping patterns.

Changes don't have to be major. For instance, your doctor may suggest you lose around 10 pounds and exercise for 30 minutes five days a week.

Our primary care providers work with patients one-on-one but can also refer patients with pre-diabetes and diabetes to Wellstar Diabetes Services to help prevent the onset or manage the effects of diabetes.

7. S.M.A.R.T. diabetes treatment plans
According to Dr. Forrest, your overall plan should include "specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely (S.M.A.R.T.) goals and involve shared decision-making between you and your care provider. There should be plenty of follow-ups to keep the conversation fluid and open to modification."

8. Know your numbers — and acronyms (A1C, CGM, TIR)
Should your screening lead to a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, conversations with your health providers will focus on several acronyms and numbers.

“Know your ABCD’s of diabetes,” said Dr. Forrest. “Your A1C, blood pressure, cholesterol and the medications you are taking. Knowing these facts about your health will be key to your success.”

• A = Hemoglobin A1C goal is <7 
• B = Blood pressure goal is <130/80 
• C = Cholesterol goal is to keep bad cholesterol <100 
• D = Drugs 

Keeping the A1C low and within an optimal range will help prevent complications like eye damage, blindness, kidney failure and nerve damage. 

A mainstay for type 2 diabetes management centers around constant glucose level monitoring. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) provides readings every few minutes via a sensor inserted just below your skin. Monitoring glucose is a common way to help regulate insulin in your body, giving you the readings you need to self-adjust with insulin when appropriate. Average glucose levels should be 100 mg/dl or lower though they can increase if you've just eaten.

New developments introduced the importance of tracking Time in Range (TIR). Along with monitoring your glucose levels, TIR may impact your customized plan for maintenance. According to Dr. Forrest, the goal for TIR is 70% or more.

9. Receive individualized diabetes care at Wellstar
For diabetes management, a personalized, proactive approach can make all the difference. Wellstar's primary care providers are here to partner with you to help prevent or manage diabetes, heart disease and many other conditions.

"A true patient-centered approach for managing diabetes is the key to the future of this disease," Dr. Forrest said. "Get screened and speak up when it comes to your care. Opportunities for personalized and individualized medicine should be a part of your treatment plan as you move forward."

Find a primary care provider near you.

You’re considered obese when your body mass index (BMI) reaches 30.0 or higher. Sometimes that means you gain 15 pounds, and nobody notices you’ve gotten much bigger. Sometimes it means you have a visible weight problem.

For U.S. adults aged 20 and over, there’s a 41.9% prevalence of obesity according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That most likely makes it more common than you suspected. And, even if you don’t feel like you’re severely overweight, being obese — according to the numbers — means opening the door to a long list of potential health risks.

So, if you can’t stop gaining weight or simply aren’t seeing the pounds come off no matter what you do, it’s time to consult a primary care doctor or advanced practice professional (APP).

Understanding what causes chronic weight gain

“Physicians previously thought obesity was only due to overeating and less exercise,” said Dr. Alicia Shelly, a Wellstar primary care provider. “The advice was always to move more and eat less, but it never guaranteed they would lose significant weight.”

In recent years, there’s been a shift in understanding weight gain, where it can stem from and how broad the range of categories really is. You can be obese because of:

• Medical conditions
• Depression or anxiety
• Thyroid issues
• Genetics
• Immune conditions
• Environmental issues

The factors that impact your weight gain drastically affect your options for treatment and what lifestyle changes you need to make to see a difference.

The one constant of obesity

Even with so many factors potentially causing obesity, the one constant is its negative impact on your health.

“There are more than 200 complications that accompany obesity,” Dr. Shelly said. 

These include more serious issues like heart disease, liver disease, hypertension and diabetes, but also other risks like reproductive disorders, sleep apnea, joint pain and mood disorders.

“Losing only 5-10% of your current weight can prove beneficial at reducing the risk of many of these obesity-related complications,” Dr. Shelly shared.

Reducing your weight by just 2.5% percent can help lower your risk of diabetes, and losing just 5% percent of your weight can improve your overall quality of life.

Having the weight conversation with your provider

Being overweight — and talking about it — can sometimes be difficult. You may feel embarrassed or that your weight gain reflects poorly on you. However, seeing that so many factors can cause weight gain that may be out of your control, there’s no reason to fear this type of conversation. What’s important though, is having a doctor or APP you trust and who supports you.

Tips for discussing weight with your doctor

1. Be ready to talk about your weight. This conversation may include answering questions that feel uncomfortable to you but will help your doctor provide the right level of care.
2. Listen carefully to the health risks associated with your weight and be open to creating a strategy for even a modest weight loss, like 5-10 pounds.
3. Participate in the creation of your treatment plan. Consider your doctor's recommendations, and speak up about what will or won’t work for you.
4. Be open to losing weight at a realistic rate.

Your expectations for what weight loss should look like may be different than your health provider. However, it’s sometimes necessary to put your assumptions about weight loss aside. Use the information your doctor gives you to make an educated choice as to what’s best for your overall health.

There’s no rush to lose weight. What’s important is making positive changes that you can commit to indefinitely that will take weight off and allow you to keep it off.

What a weight loss plan may look like

Many weight loss plans begin with lifestyle changes. These can include changing how you handle stress, keeping a food journal or focusing on portion control. You may even have to add or remove certain foods or beverages from your diet.

With these changes should also come a plan for staying vigilant even when life throws a curveball to your routine.

“It is common for people to get overwhelmed with the challenges during their weight loss journey and quit,” Dr. Shelly said. “This is why a piece of your weight loss plan will include addressing potential challenges and mapping out ways to overcome them.”

Appetite suppressants may also assist with an effective weight loss plan. New weight management options have come on the market in recent years. Your doctor may prescribe an FDA-approved medication, but it’s good to know that most offer an average weight loss of anywhere between 6-15%, and all carry the possibility of side effects that range from insomnia to nausea to constipation.

Work closely with your doctor before taking any medication, and only use what they prescribe.

Beginning your weight loss journey

Once you’re motivated to start losing weight, the first step on your journey is to create a road map with a qualified medical professional as your guide. Schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or search for a primary care provider near you.