Get the New Year Off to a Healthy Start

The end of the year is a good time to take stock of your health and any chronic conditions you have that require management or monitoring. 

For patients with diabetes, that means regularly recording blood sugar levels at home and having your diabetic hemoglobin A1c levels checked several times per year. 

Annual eye exams and visits with a podiatrist are also important for managing diabetes and preventing the serious health problems it can cause. 

If you’ve been diagnosed with hypertension, checking your blood pressure regularly and controlling the condition is key to lowering your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Too busy during the holidays to schedule a visit? You can track your numbers with a digital blood pressure cuff at home and report your results in your South Shore Health MyChart account or by calling the Medical Center 781-878-5200.

Before turning the calendar to 2026, make prioritizing your health your New Year’s resolution.

Schedule a physical exam with your primary care provider and a well-child visit for your child (around the time of their birthday) with their pediatric provider. 

Any preventative screenings for which you’re due – colonoscopy, skin exam, Pap test, prostate exam or mammogram -- should also be on the calendar.   

Strategic scheduling improvements including MyChart's Fast Pass feature and the addition of new mammography equipment, has greatly improved access and shortened wait times for screening mammograms at both the Diagnostic Imaging and Women's Specialty Center in Weymouth and at South Shore Medical Center Norwell. Patients can schedule mammograms through South Shore Health MyChart or by calling (781) 624-4090.

Wishing you Happy Holidays and a Healthy New Year!

Learn more about Primary Care at South Shore Health.