WellStart Health is a virtual medical retreat that helps people reverse or prevent type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and overweight. We empower our participants by using evidence-based medicine, groundbreaking behavior change tools, and offer a safe, informative, engaging way for individuals to improve their lifestyle habits.
We help your patients achieve better outcomes while letting you spend more meaningful time with them.
The cornerstone of the program is educating and empowering patients to adopt a whole food, plant-based way of eating (with emphasis on vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains, while keeping animal products and processed foods to a minimum.) In addition, WellStart Health’s platform guides participants on ways to engage in more physical activity and to manage their stress through mindfulness and other self-care activities, and on how to build a social support infrastructure.
Our 12-week lifestyle medicine program provides online health coaching and education on 5 domains of wellbeing: whole food, plant-forward nutrition, movement, mindset and social support and resilience. Our pilot programs have shown a mean weight reduction of 6.9 lbs in 85% of our participants of the 12-week program. 85% of participants with prediabetes experienced a reduction in hemoglobin A1c, while 100% of those with diabetes had a mean hemoglobin A1c reduction of 1.1. We have also helped 35% of participants on pharmacotherapy, eliminate medication (antihypertensives and metformin).
Studies have shown the ability of plant-based nutrition to reverse chronic disease including coronary artery disease. The BROAD study found a statistically significant reduction in BMI and cholesterol in those following a plant-based diet. Furthermore, Dean Ornish’s research showed regression of coronary atherosclerosis after 5 years of a plant-based diet in addition to lifestyle changes and found that it reduced cardiac events by half. Caldwell Esselstyn’s research on a whole food plant-based diet also demonstrated a significant reduction in major cardiac events in adherent patients.
Furthermore, a 2016 comprehensive literature review supports a plant-based diet as medical nutrition therapy for diabetes based on its ability to reduce fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, body mass index and reduce medication use.
The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a lifestyle and diet intervention program, reduces the risk of diabetes by half in a population at risk. It has been successfully adapted to the online setting, and we are taking this concept a step further by providing our participants with additional education and support to transition to plant-forward nutrition habits.
For more information on our program or questions about how to enroll your patients:
Biometrics Measured at Start
3 Dietitian Visits
3 Doctor Visits
3 Health Coach Visits
Ongoing Group Discussions
Daily Text Support With Health Coach
Daily Articles and Videos
Biometrics Measured at End
40 Weeks of ongoing check-ins and group discussions to ensure changes stick.
1. Who should I refer to the WellStart Health program?
The WellStart Health program can help your patients who suffer from or are at risk of chronic disease including type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, heart disease, obesity or are overweight. We welcome referrals of patients 18 years of age or older whose body mass index is 25 or above, who may or may not have any of the conditions above. If you have a patient who you think would benefit from our program, but doesn’t fit all of the above criteria, we would love to hear from you and one of our physicians will discuss with you if/how we may be able to help you.
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
2. How do I refer a patient?
Simply
3. How will I be updated on the progress of my patient?
Our clinical team will communicate with you regarding your patient’s progress via encrypted email or phone. We require that your patient fills out authorization for this and that we have your up to date contact information. We will be in touch as required, depending on the nature and severity of your patients’ conditions. For patients who are in our prevention arm, we will provide a progress report at 3 months.
We look forward to collaborating with you and achieving groundbreaking results in your patient population.
For more information on our program or questions about how to enroll your patients:
