Patient Wellness Resources
The following links will take you to websites that provide helpful information regarding healthy living including everything from simple tracking tools to easy-to-prepare recipes. These resources are continuously updated, so check back regularly.
Diabetes Overview
An introduction to what diabetes is, the different types, and diabetes management.
Diabetes Symptoms
Symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and a brief description of what causes those symptoms.
Type 1 Diabetes
Defines diabetes and type 1 diabetes. Explains the difference from type 2 diabetes, causes of type 1, treatment and how type 1 affects daily life.
Type 2 Diabetes
Defines diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Explains the difference from type 1, causes of type 2, and treatment.
A1C/eAG
The A1C is a blood glucose test that may also be reported as estimated average blood glucose (eAG). It tells you what your average blood glucose levels have been for the past 2 to 3 months. This site explains A1C, how often it is done, targets, and meaning of results.
Food and Physical Activity Trackers
Keep track of everything you eat and drink using our tracker below. After a few weeks, review it to see where extra calories are coming from in your diet. Are they coming from the samples you try at the grocery store? Or the snacking you do in front of the TV?
Starter Walking Plan
This guide helps patients that are interested in becoming more active build stamina over 12 weeks. It also has a log that can be printed to track that activity.
Blood Glucose Log
Sample blood glucose log.
Recipes for Healthy Living
Recipes and tips for healthy eating from the American Diabetes Association.
Heart Healthy Eating
Healthy eating starts with healthy food choices. You don’t need to be a chef to create nutritious, heart-healthy meals your family will love. Learn what to look for at the grocery store, restaurants, your workplace and any eating occasion.
High Blood Pressure Resources
Our downloadable patient information sheets offer a question-and-answer format that’s brief, easy to follow and easy to read. They also provide room for you to write down questions to ask your doctor. This can help you prepare to get the most out of your next visit with your healthcare professional.
Why Blood Pressure Matters
Yes, uncontrolled high blood pressure (HBP) can injure or kill you. It’s sometimes called “the silent killer” because HBP has no symptoms, so you may not be aware that it’s damaging your arteries, heart and other organs.
Understand Your Risk for High Blood Pressure
Science has identified several factors that can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure (HBP) and thus your risk for heart attack, heart disease and stroke.
Recipes for Blood Pressure Management
You won’t miss the salt when you taste these dishes. These recipes are brought to you exclusively online by the American Heart Association’s Patient Education program.
Defining Adult Overweight and Obesity
Weight that is higher than what is considered as a healthy weight for a given height is described as overweight or obese. Body Mass Index, or BMI, is used as a screening tool for overweight or obesity.
Blood Pressure Log
Measure and keep track of your blood pressure for your own information and to help your physician provide better guidance.
Adult Obesity Causes & Consequences
Obesity is a complex health issue to address. Obesity results from a combination of causes and contributing factors, including individual factors such as behavior and genetics. Behaviors can include dietary patterns, physical activity, inactivity, medication use, and other exposures. Additional contributing factors in our society include the food and physical activity environment, education and skills, and food marketing and promotion.
Smoking Facts
Every year in the U.S., more than 480,000 people die from tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, making it the leading cause of preventable death in this country. Tragically, each day thousands of kids still pick up a tobacco product for the first time.
How to Quit Smoking
Most smokers today know that smoking is bad for their health and harmful to people around them. They know they should quit but they also know it’s going to be hard. Fortunately, there’s lots of help available. The American Lung Association offers resources to help smokers figure out their reasons for quitting and then take the big step of quitting for good.
Tobacco Quitline
Your first call will take about 15-20 minutes.
You will be asked a series of questions about your contact information, tobacco use behavior (such as what type of tobacco you use, how much you smoke and frequency), and any quit history you may have (such as methods used and the longest quit you’ve been able to accomplish).
What is Individual Insurance?
Individual health insurance covers one person or all the members of a family under one policy. The contract exists solely between the individual and the insurance company. Usually, evidence of good health is required before a policy is issued. Click link from more information from the South Carolina Department of Insurance.
Dr. Ann Kulze
As a physician, best-selling author, and motivational speaker, Dr. Ann Kulze is on a personal crusade to share with as many people as possible the joys of living well. She is a renowned authority in the areas of nutrition, healthy lifestyles and disease prevention. As a gifted teacher with unrivaled credibility and passion, Dr. Ann transforms all of the “new science” of healthy living into programs that are simple, easy and fun!