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# Sustain MD: SustainMD, founded by Allison Pope Barbee, MD, offers compassionate, stigma-free care focused on your health journey. As a telemedicine clinic serving California, Florida, Maine, and North Carolina, SustainMD combines medical weight loss and Direct Primary Care to meet patients where they are. Dr. Barbee is dedicated to addressing conditions like insulin resistance, PCOS, prediabetes, diabetes, and hypothyroidism in a welcoming, non-judgmental environment. Her care is rooted in actionable, sustainable strategies tailored to long-term health goals, nurturing both physical and mental well-being. Learn more on our website and reach out through our Contact Us form to begin. Coming soon- in person care in Concord, NC.

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://sustainmd.net/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [Why Am I Gaining Weight Even When I Eat Healthy? Possible Causes to Consider](https://sustainmd.net/blog-gaining-weight-eating-healthy-possible-causes/): Few things are more discouraging than doing everything "right" and still watching the scale climb. Patients who have carefully overhauled their diet, cut out processed foods, started meal prepping, and added regular exercise often expect to see results, and when the opposite happens instead, it can feel like a betrayal by their own body. This experience frequently brings a wave of self-doubt, embarrassment around family or friends who assume the weight gain must reflect poor choices, and a quiet fear that something more serious might be wrong. It can also affect daily life in tangible ways, from clothes no longer fitting to reduced energy for exercise, work, or keeping up with children, creating a discouraging cycle where the harder someone tries, the more defeated they feel.
- [What Is Fasting Insulin, and What Can It Tell You About Metabolic Health?](https://sustainmd.net/blog-what-is-fasting-insulin-test/): For patients trying to understand their own metabolic health, the standard lab workup often feels incomplete. A yearly physical typically includes cholesterol, fasting glucose, and maybe an A1C, yet many people still leave those appointments without real answers for why they feel exhausted, why weight will not budge, or why cravings feel impossible to control. This gap between how someone feels and what their labs supposedly confirm can be genuinely distressing, especially for patients who suspect something metabolic is happening but keep being told everything looks fine. The frustration of not having language or data to describe what your body is experiencing, while still managing work, family, and daily life on limited energy, wears on people over time in ways that are easy to underestimate.
- [Can You Have Insulin Resistance With Normal Blood Sugar?](https://sustainmd.net/blog-insulin-resistance-with-normal-blood-sugar/): It is one of the most disorienting experiences in metabolic health: bloodwork comes back "normal," yet the symptoms tell a completely different story. Persistent fatigue that no amount of sleep seems to fix, stubborn weight gain around the midsection, intense sugar or carbohydrate cravings, and a general sense that something is off, all while a doctor points to a normal glucose number and moves on. This mismatch between how a person feels and what their labs supposedly show can be deeply frustrating and even isolating, especially when friends, family, or even other providers suggest the symptoms must be related to stress, diet, or simply not trying hard enough. Feeling unheard or dismissed while still struggling physically takes a real toll on confidence, motivation, and mental well-being over time.
- [Why Is My Blood Sugar High in the Morning? Causes and What to Do](https://sustainmd.net/blog-why-is-my-blood-sugar-high-in-the-morning/): Waking up to a higher than expected blood sugar reading can be one of the most confusing and discouraging parts of managing metabolic health. It can feel especially frustrating for patients who were careful with what they ate the night before, avoided late snacking, and still see a number that does not make sense. This unpredictability creates real anxiety around eating, sleeping, and even going to bed at a certain time, since it is never quite clear what will happen overnight. For many, it also disrupts sleep itself, either from checking glucose levels repeatedly or from the physical symptoms, like waking up thirsty, groggy, or with a headache, that can accompany elevated morning blood sugar. Over time, this daily uncertainty can chip away at a person's sense of control over their own health and add stress to what should be the calmest part of the day.
- [What Causes Belly Fat in Women? Hormones, Insulin and Metabolic Health](https://sustainmd.net/blog-what-causes-belly-fat-in-women-hormones-insulin/): For many women, stubborn belly fat is not just a cosmetic frustration. It affects how clothes fit, how confident they feel getting dressed in the morning, and how comfortable they are in social or professional settings. Some women describe feeling disconnected from their own bodies, especially when the weight gain seems to have appeared suddenly, around a major life stage like pregnancy, perimenopause, or a stressful year, and refuses to respond to the same diet and exercise habits that worked before. Beyond appearance, abdominal weight gain can bring real physical discomfort, disrupted sleep, low energy, and a nagging worry about long-term health risks like heart disease or type 2 diabetes. The emotional toll of feeling like your body is working against you, especially while trying to keep up with work, family, and daily responsibilities, is often just as heavy as the physical symptoms themselves.
- [What Is the Difference Between Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes?](https://sustainmd.net/blog-insulin-resistance-vs-prediabetes-difference/): Hearing the words "your blood sugar is a little high" or "you might have insulin resistance" can feel confusing rather than clarifying, especially when a doctor moves on without explaining what either term actually means. Patients are often left wondering whether they are sick, how serious it is, and what happens next, all while dealing with symptoms like persistent fatigue, stubborn weight around the midsection, sugar cravings, and brain fog that make daily life harder. For many, this uncertainty creates real anxiety, especially when there is a family history of type 2 diabetes and a fear of following the same path. Trying to parent, work, or simply get through the day while feeling physically off and unsure why can wear down even the most resilient person.
- [What Is the Difference Between Myo-Inositol and D-Chiro-Inositol?](https://sustainmd.net/blog-myo-inositol-vs-d-chiro-inositol-difference/): For many women living with PCOS or insulin resistance, the daily reality is exhausting in ways that rarely show up on a lab report. Irregular or missing periods make it hard to plan a life around an unpredictable body. Stubborn weight gain, especially around the midsection, resists diet and exercise changes that used to work. Fatigue, mood swings, acne, and unwanted hair growth chip away at confidence and self-image. Simple things, like trying to conceive, keeping up with a demanding job, or having the energy to exercise or cook a healthy dinner after work, start to feel like uphill battles. Over time, the frustration of not being believed or not being able to explain what's happening in your own body can be just as draining as the physical symptoms themselves.
- [Tirzepatide Injections for Weight Loss: How It Works, Results, and Side Effects](https://sustainmd.net/tirzepatide-weight-loss/): If you're reading about tirzepatide, chances are you're tired in a way that goes deeper than a bad night's sleep. Tired of hunger that hijacks your day. Tired of watching weight come back after every diet that briefly worked. Tired of feeling like your own body is working against you while everyone around you offers advice that's never once fixed the problem.
- [Semaglutide vs. Tirzepatide: Key Differences Dr. Barbee Wants You to Know](https://sustainmd.net/semaglutide-vs-tirzepatide/): You've read the articles, watched the videos, asked friends what worked for them, and you're still stuck on the same question: semaglutide or tirzepatide, which one is actually right for you? Maybe you've spent years fighting the same ten, thirty, or eighty pounds, and being told to "just eat less and move more" feels almost insulting at this point, because you've already tried that, more than once.
- [Mounjaro vs. Ozempic for Weight Loss: Which Is Right for You?](https://sustainmd.net/mounjaro-vs-ozempic/): You've finally decided to try a prescription medication for your weight, which is a real step after years of diets that never stuck. But now you're staring at two names, Mounjaro and Ozempic, and the more you research, the more confused you get. Every article seems to contradict the last one, friends swear by different ones, and you're worried about picking wrong or dealing with side effects you could've avoided.
- [Hormonal Weight Gain in Men: Causes, Signs, and How to Address It](https://sustainmd.net/hormonal-weight-gain-men/): Something's changed, and you can feel it even if you can't quite explain it. The routine that used to keep you lean barely makes a dent now. Weight is settling around your midsection in a way it never used to, your energy feels flat, and your workouts feel harder for less to show for it. It's frustrating, maybe a little embarrassing, and it's easy to start wondering if this is just what getting older feels like.
- [Do You Have to Take GLP-1 Forever? A Physician Explains Your Options](https://sustainmd.net/glp-1-forever/): For the first time in years, things are working. The weight is coming off, the constant hunger has finally gone quiet, and you feel more like yourself. But right alongside that relief, a worry creeps in: is this permanent? If you stop, does it all come back? It's a heavy thing to carry, especially when you've already lived through the disappointment of losing weight on a diet only to watch it return.
- [The GLP-1 Diet: What to Eat (and Avoid) for Better Results](https://sustainmd.net/glp-1-diet-guide/): Starting a weight-loss medication is supposed to feel like relief, and often it does at first. But then the practical questions pile up and nobody seems to have clear answers. Your appetite has dropped so dramatically that yoYou started your GLP-1 medication expecting relief, and in a lot of ways, you got it. Your appetite finally quieted down. But now you're standing in the kitchen wondering what to actually eat, because your old habits don't seem to fit anymore. A meal that used to be normal now leaves you queasy. You're eating so little that you're worried you're shortchanging your body, maybe even losing muscle instead of fat, and second-guessing every bite.
- [How Insulin Resistance Damages Your Heart Health Over Time](https://sustainmd.net/insulin-resistance-heart-health/): The conversation about heart health often focuses on cholesterol numbers, blood pressure readings, and family history—and all of those things matter. But there's a major cardiovascular risk factor that's less often discussed in routine care, and it's one of the most modifiable: insulin resistance. The connection between insulin resistance and heart disease runs through multiple physiological pathways, and it begins long before any formal diabetes diagnosis. For patients who've been told their bloodwork is 'mostly normal,' insulin resistance can be quietly accumulating cardiovascular damage in the background.
- [PCOS and Insulin Resistance: The Hidden Connection Behind Weight Gain](https://sustainmd.net/pcos-insulin-resistance-weight-gain/): For women living with polycystic ovary syndrome, the frustration runs deep. The weight gain happens despite genuine effort to eat well. The irregular cycles, the skin changes, the hair loss or unwanted hair growth—all of it compounds the feeling that your body is working against you in ways you don't fully understand. And often, the medical advice received doesn't help much: eat less, exercise more, maybe try birth control. For many women, these recommendations miss the central metabolic driver that makes PCOS so difficult to manage: insulin resistance.
- [Early Signs of Prediabetes You Should Never Ignore](https://sustainmd.net/early-signs-of-prediabetes/): One of the most frustrating things about prediabetes is that it rarely announces itself clearly. There's no dramatic symptom that sends you to the doctor. No pain, no obvious dysfunction—just a slow, quiet accumulation of metabolic changes that most people don't recognize as warning signs until years down the line when they get a blood test and hear a number they weren't expecting. The early signs of prediabetes are real and recognizable in retrospect, but they're easy to rationalize away: of course I'm tired—I've been busy. Of course I'm craving sugar—I didn't sleep well. Of course I'm gaining weight—I'm getting older.
- [Can Insulin Resistance Be Reversed Without Dieting? What Doctors Actually Recommend](https://sustainmd.net/reverse-insulin-resistance-without-dieting/): If you've been told you have insulin resistance, there's a good chance you've also been told to 'watch what you eat.' That advice isn't wrong—but it's incomplete in a way that leaves many people frustrated. The question of whether insulin resistance can be reversed without strict dieting comes up often, and the honest physician answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. Diet is a powerful tool, but it's not the only tool, and the concept of 'dieting' in the traditional sense—restrictive calorie counting, cutting entire food groups—isn't the most effective or sustainable approach for most patients with insulin resistance.
- [Insulin Resistance vs Diabetes: What’s the Difference?](https://sustainmd.net/insulin-resistance-vs-diabetes/): If you've recently had bloodwork that raised concerns about your blood sugar, or if a doctor has mentioned prediabetes or insulin resistance, you may be trying to understand what those terms actually mean—and how worried you should be. The distinction between insulin resistance and diabetes is important, not just as a label but as a practical guide for what to do next. These are different points on the same metabolic continuum, and understanding where you fall on that spectrum determines what kind of intervention is most likely to help.
- [How Obesity Increases Blood Pressure (Even in Young Adults)](https://sustainmd.net/obesity-high-blood-pressure-link/): High blood pressure used to be thought of as a condition that caught up with you in middle age or later. That assumption is increasingly outdated. Hypertension is being diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s at growing rates, and one of the most consistent predictors is excess body weight—particularly abdominal adiposity. If you've been told your blood pressure is elevated and you carry excess weight, the connection between those two facts is not coincidental. Obesity drives hypertension through several well-established physiological pathways, and the cardiovascular risk it creates doesn't wait for a 50th birthday.
- [How Sleep Affects Weight Loss and Insulin Resistance](https://sustainmd.net/sleep-weight-loss-insulin-resistance/): You've probably been told that losing weight comes down to eating well and exercising regularly—and both of those things matter. But there's a third factor that gets far less attention and can undermine everything else you're doing: sleep. If you're consistently sleeping fewer than seven hours a night, dealing with fragmented sleep, or pushing through chronic fatigue, your body may be in a metabolic state that makes weight loss genuinely difficult, regardless of how carefully you eat or how often you work out. The connection between sleep and weight gain isn't casual—it runs through several core hormonal and metabolic systems that directly affect hunger, fat storage, and insulin function.
- [How Medical Weight Loss Treats Root Causes, Not Symptoms](https://sustainmd.net/medical-weight-loss-root-causes/): There's a particular kind of discouragement that comes from trying to lose weight seriously—cutting calories, going to the gym, giving up foods you enjoy—and still not seeing lasting results. The medical weight loss approach directly addresses this gap by treating not the symptom of excess weight, but the underlying causes driving it. For millions of people, persistent weight gain isn't a character flaw or a lack of discipline. It's a physiological problem that diet culture and generic advice are simply not equipped to solve.
- [Ozempic vs Wegovy: Which GLP-1 Works Better for Weight Loss?](https://sustainmd.net/ozempic-vs-wegovy-weight-loss/): If you've been researching medical weight loss options recently, you've almost certainly come across the names Ozempic and Wegovy. They're discussed in news articles, on social media, and increasingly in doctor's offices—often in the same breath, sometimes interchangeably. But patients who come to SustainMD frequently arrive with a lot of confusion about what these medications actually are, how they differ, and which one might be appropriate for their situation. That confusion is understandable, because the landscape of GLP-1 medications has changed rapidly, and the marketing around them doesn't always make things clearer. What's undeniable is that many people are experiencing serious weight challenges despite genuine effort, and the availability of effective medical options is changing what's possible for long-term results.
- [Hormonal Weight Gain After 40 in Women: Causes and Solutions](https://sustainmd.net/hormonal-weight-gain-after-40/): If you've noticed the number on the scale creeping up despite no major changes to your diet or exercise routine, you're not imagining things. Weight gain after 40 in women is one of the most common and frustrating health concerns we hear at SustainMD. For many women, this shift happens gradually—a few pounds here, a thicker waistline there—until one day it feels like your body is simply working against you. The weight often concentrates around the belly and hips, doesn't respond to the strategies that used to work, and comes paired with fatigue, mood changes, and disrupted sleep. It stops feeling like a diet issue and starts feeling like something deeper is going on—because it is.
- [GLP-1 Weight Loss Injections: How They Work and What to Expect](https://sustainmd.net/glp-1-weight-loss-injections-how-they-work-and-what-to-expect/): If you have been paying attention to conversations about weight loss over the past few years, you have probably heard the names: semaglutide, tirzepatide, Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound. These medications — GLP-1 receptor agonists — have generated more genuine clinical excitement in the obesity medicine field than almost anything in decades. Patients are reporting meaningful weight loss. Research is confirming benefits well beyond the number on the scale. And for people who have tried everything and felt like they were fighting their own biology every step of the way, the experience of finally having a tool that works with the body's own hormonal systems can feel transformative. But for all the attention these medications have received, there is still a lot of confusion about what they actually do, how they work, who is a good candidate, and what to realistically expect.
- [Why Stress Makes You Gain Weight (Even If You Don’t Overeat Much)](https://sustainmd.net/why-stress-makes-you-gain-weight-even-if-you-dont-overeat-much/): You have been eating carefully. You have not dramatically changed your habits. And yet the weight keeps creeping up — especially around your midsection — and nothing you try seems to stop it. If this matches your experience, there is a conversation worth having about something that most weight management programs barely mention: what chronic stress does to your metabolism, your hormones, and your body's ability to burn fat. The connection between stress and weight gain is real, measurable, and for many people entirely unexpected. Nobody tells you that the unrelenting pressure of a demanding job, a difficult family situation, financial worry, or years of inadequate sleep could be actively contributing to weight gain independent of what you eat. But it can be. And for a significant portion of people struggling with weight, it is.
- [Direct Primary Care vs Insurance-Based Healthcare Explained](https://sustainmd.net/direct-primary-care-vs-insurance-based-healthcare-explained/): The direct primary care (DPC) model emerged as a physician-led response to exactly these frustrations. By removing insurance from the primary care equation entirely and replacing it with a transparent monthly membership fee, DPC practices eliminate most of the structural incentives that push conventional medicine toward rushed appointments, limited access, and impersonal care. Physicians in DPC models typically see far fewer patients than those in insurance-based practices, which means more time per patient, faster access, and the ability to actually practice medicine thoughtfully rather than react to billing constraints. More patients are beginning to understand this model and ask whether it might serve them better than what they currently have.
- [Virtual Doctor vs In-Person Visit: Which Is Better in 2026?](https://sustainmd.net/virtual-doctor-vs-in-person-visit-which-is-better-in-2026/): A few years ago, the idea of getting a real medical consultation without driving to a clinic, sitting in a waiting room for forty minutes, and then spending twelve minutes with a physician who barely looks up from a screen would have seemed like wishful thinking. Today, millions of patients across the United States manage chronic conditions, get prescriptions adjusted, discuss lab results, and receive thorough metabolic evaluations without leaving their homes. The growth of telehealth has fundamentally changed what patient access to quality care looks like — and patients are increasingly asking a reasonable question: is virtual care actually as good as in-person care for what I need?
- [Are Weight Loss Injections Safe? GLP-1 Side Effects: What Patients Should Know](https://sustainmd.net/are-weight-loss-injections-safe-glp-1-side-effects-what-patients-should-know/): GLP-1 weight loss injections have a well-established safety profile for most appropriate candidates when used under proper medical supervision. Side effects are real — predominantly gastrointestinal and most prominent during the early treatment phase — but they are manageable for the majority of patients with proper guidance. Serious adverse events are rare and often preventable with thorough pre-treatment screening and careful monitoring. The most important factor in both safety and efficacy is not which medication you take — it is how carefully it is prescribed and managed. At SustainMD, Dr. Allison Barbee ensures that every patient receiving GLP-1 therapy does so with the medical oversight, monitoring, and support that makes a real difference in outcomes.
- [How Estrogen Changes Affect Fat Storage in Women](https://sustainmd.net/how-estrogen-changes-affect-fat-storage-in-women/): You are doing everything the same — eating the same foods, maintaining the same activity level, living more or less the same life — and yet your body is changing in ways that feel unfamiliar and, frankly, unfair. The weight that used to stay off is coming back. Fat that used to sit on your hips and thighs is migrating to your midsection. Your clothes fit differently. Your energy is not what it was. If you are a woman in your 40s or 50s experiencing this, your first instinct might be to blame yourself. But what is happening to your body during this period of life has a clear biological explanation — one rooted in how estrogen influences fat storage, metabolism, and energy balance.
- [Insulin Resistance and Obesity: The Hidden Connection](https://sustainmd.net/insulin-resistance-and-obesity-the-hidden-connection/): Weight gain that comes on gradually and then seems to accelerate. Belly fat that won't budge no matter how many diets you try. A persistent feeling that your body is storing everything instead of burning it — and the gnawing suspicion that the problem is biological, not just behavioral. For millions of people, this is not a temporary plateau or a motivation problem. It is the lived experience of a metabolic cycle that connects insulin resistance and obesity in a self-reinforcing loop that calorie restriction alone cannot reliably break. When you are inside that cycle, it can feel like your body is working against you. In a very real biochemical sense, it is.
- [Hormones vs Calories: What Actually Controls Weight Gain](https://sustainmd.net/hormones-vs-calories-what-actually-controls-weight-gain/): The calorie balance model is not wrong — energy intake and expenditure do matter. But it is incomplete in ways that profoundly affect real-world outcomes for real patients. The central issue is that hormones regulate both sides of the calorie equation. They control how hungry you are, how satisfied you feel after eating, how efficiently your body burns fuel, and whether incoming energy gets stored as fat or used for other functions. When hormones are dysregulated, the calorie balance model starts to break down.
- [Hormonal Imbalance vs Metabolic Disease: What’s the Difference?](https://sustainmd.net/hormonal-imbalance-vs-metabolic-disease-whats-the-difference/): A big part of the confusion comes from how symptoms overlap between hormonal imbalance and metabolic disease. Both conditions can cause weight changes, fatigue, mood instability, and disrupted sleep. Because they often coexist and influence each other, it's easy for one to be mistaken for the other — or for neither to be properly diagnosed at all. Many patients have been told their symptoms are caused by stress or aging when the real driver was a measurable, treatable imbalance in their hormonal or metabolic systems. Knowing the difference helps patients ask better questions and advocate more effectively for complete care.
- [Why Fatigue Is Often a Metabolic Problem, Not a Lifestyle Issue](https://sustainmd.net/why-fatigue-is-often-a-metabolic-problem-not-a-lifestyle-issue/): At some point, most chronically fatigued patients find their way to a doctor's office. Blood work comes back "normal." Thyroid looks fine. Iron is okay. The visit ends with a recommendation to reduce stress or try better sleep hygiene. This leaves patients feeling dismissed and, in many cases, questioning themselves. But the truth is that standard blood panels often miss the underlying metabolic dysfunction that contributes to fatigue. Conditions like insulin resistance, blood sugar dysregulation, and early-stage metabolic syndrome rarely show up on a basic CBC or standard thyroid panel. Patients who sense that something is wrong are usually right — they just need a clinician who looks deeper.
- [7 Day Balanced Insulin Resistance Diet Plan for Beginners By Dr Allison Barbee](https://sustainmd.net/7-day-insulin-resistance-diet-plan/): Insulin resistance is one of the most common — and most overlooked — metabolic challenges affecting adults today. It occurs when your body's cells gradually stop responding to insulin correctly, making it harder for glucose to enter your cells and convert into usable energy. Instead of fueling your body efficiently, that glucose lingers in your bloodstream, quietly pushing blood sugar levels higher over time.
- [Insulin Resistance Meal Timing: Why When You Eat Matters as Much as What](https://sustainmd.net/meal-timing-insulin-resistance/): For years, the weight loss conversation has been almost entirely about what you eat. Counting calories, tracking macros, swapping ingredients. What that conversation often leaves out is something just as powerful — and a lot easier to control — than your grocery list: when you eat. For women dealing with insulin resistance, meal timing can be the difference between a plan that works and a plan that quietly fights you all day.
- [HOMA-IR Explained: The Insulin Resistance Test Your Doctor Probably Skipped](https://sustainmd.net/homa-ir-test/): The answer is often the same: your doctor did not run the right test. The HOMA-IR test is one of the most useful early screens for insulin resistance, and it almost never appears on a standard lab panel. Dr. Allison Barbee, the obesity medicine physician at Sustain MD, runs HOMA-IR routinely on patients who have been told they are "fine" but feel anything but. Here is what the test is, why it matters, and how to ask for it.
- [Insulin Resistance Symptoms Checklist: 15 Warning Signs Women Shouldn’t Ignore](https://sustainmd.net/insulin-resistance-symptoms-in-women/): If you have been doing everything right — eating less, moving more, sleeping enough — and the scale still will not budge, the problem may not be your willpower. It may be your hormones. Insulin resistance is one of the most overlooked drivers of stubborn weight gain, fatigue, and brain fog in women, and it often shows up years before a doctor flags anything on a standard lab panel.
- [Carbs, Insulin, and Belly Fat: The Real Reason You Can’t Lose Weight](https://sustainmd.net/insulin-resistance-belly-fat/): You have cut calories. You have started walking. You have tried whatever the latest plan was — and yet the belly weight will not budge. If that sounds familiar, the problem is probably not your effort. It is probably the conversation happening between the carbs on your plate and the insulin in your bloodstream. Once you understand that conversation, the whole "why can't I lose this weight" puzzle starts to make a lot more sense.
- [How Telehealth Doctors Diagnose Without Physical Exams: Is Online Diagnosis Accurate?](https://sustainmd.net/how-telehealth-doctors-diagnose/): Can a doctor really diagnose you accurately without being in the same room? This is one of the most common questions patients ask before their first telehealth appointment—and it's a completely reasonable concern worth addressing honestly.
- [The Role of Virtual Care in Managing High Blood Pressure](https://sustainmd.net/manage-high-blood-pressure-online/): How can a doctor help with my blood pressure if I'm not in the office? This question reflects a common misconception that effective hypertension management requires frequent in-person visits. The reality is quite different: controlling high blood pressure demands consistent monitoring and timely medication adjustments, not just occasional office readings every few months.
- [Are Weight Loss Injections Safe Long Term? What Doctors Monitor](https://sustainmd.net/are-weight-loss-injections-safe/): If you’re thinking about GLP-1 weight loss injections like semaglutide, you’re probably asking: “Are these safe to use long term?” With so much buzz about dramatic weight loss results, it’s normal to worry about safety.
- [How Telemedicine Helps Prevent Diabetes Complications Early](https://sustainmd.net/early-diabetes-complication-prevention/): Diabetes complications often develop quietly, without obvious symptoms. Nerve damage, kidney problems, or vision issues can appear years before traditional checkups catch them, making prevention harder.
- [How Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Improves Diabetes Care](https://sustainmd.net/continuous-glucose-monitoring-benefits/): Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has transformed diabetes care by providing real-time insights into your glucose levels every few minutes, day and night. This modern approach replaces guesswork with data, helping you understand how food, activity, stress, and medication truly affect your body.
- [Emotional Eating vs Hunger: How to Tell the Difference and Stop Emotional Eating](https://sustainmd.net/how-to-stop-emotional-eating/): You are not alone in asking it, and it is not a willpower problem. Emotional eating is one of the most common barriers people run into on the way to sustainable weight loss and better metabolic health, and it has real biological roots, not just psychological ones.
- [Is Virtual Preventive Care Right for You? What SimplyWell Covers (and Who It’s For)](https://sustainmd.net/is-virtual-preventive-care-right-for-you/): You know you should see a doctor regularly. You know preventive care matters. But actually getting that care is often frustrating and complicated.
- [Why Diet and Exercise Often Fail for Insulin Resistance](https://sustainmd.net/why-diet-and-exercise-dont-work-for-insulin-resistance/): You've done everything the articles told you to do. You've prepared meals, counted calories, tracked macros, and shown up at the gym week after week. You've cut carbs, added more vegetables, tried intermittent fasting. You've been consistent, disciplined, and committed.
- [8 Signs of Insulin Resistance: How to tell if you have Insulin Resistance](https://sustainmd.net/how-to-tell-if-you-have-insulin-resistance/): The medical system often takes a "wait and see" approach. Even when labs show early warning signs of Insulin Resistance—fasting glucose creeping from 85 to 95, A1C rising from 5.2% to 5.5%—the standard approach is often to monitor and wait until numbers cross into prediabetes range before intervening.
- [Prediabetes, Stubborn Weight Gain, and Fatigue: One Root Cause Doctors Miss](https://sustainmd.net/prediabetes-weight-gain-fatigue/): You're exhausted all the time, no matter how much you sleep. The weight keeps creeping up despite eating carefully and staying active. Your doctor runs labs and tells you your blood sugar is "a little high" or that you have prediabetes, but assures you it's nothing to worry about yet.
- [Insulin Resistance vs “Slow Metabolism”: Why the Difference Matters](https://sustainmd.net/insulin-resistance-vs-slow-metabolism/): You've been told you have a "slow metabolism." Maybe a trainer said it. Maybe you read it in an article. Maybe you've just concluded it yourself after years of watching the scale refuse to budge despite eating carefully and exercising regularly.
- [Why “Normal Blood Sugar” Doesn’t Rule Out Insulin Resistance](https://sustainmd.net/normal-blood-sugar-insulin-resistance/): Your doctor orders labs. You fast overnight, get your blood drawn, and wait anxiously for the results. When they come back, you're told everything looks fine. Your fasting glucose is normal. Your A1C is normal. There's nothing to worry about.
- [Online Medical Weight Loss: How Physician-Led Programs Differ From Apps](https://sustainmd.net/physician-supervised-weight-loss-programs/): The internet is full of weight loss solutions. Apps that track calories. Programs sending meal plans. Subscriptions promising home-based results. Some cost a few dollars monthly. Others charge hundreds. All claim they can help.
- [Medical Weight Loss for Hormonal Weight Gain (PCOS, Perimenopause, Insulin Resistance)](https://sustainmd.net/hormonal-weight-gain-treatment/): You are doing everything you have been told to do. Tracking food carefully, choosing lean proteins and vegetables, working out on a consistent schedule. Maybe you hired a trainer. Maybe you tried intermittent fasting. And the scale either keeps climbing or refuses to move at all.
- [Do You Qualify for Medical Weight Loss? A Doctor Explains](https://sustainmd.net/do-you-qualify-for-medical-weight-loss/): You have looked at the ads, read a few articles, maybe watched a friend's before-and-after on Instagram, and you keep circling back to the same question. Do you actually qualify for medical weight loss, or is this something for people whose situation is more serious than yours?
- [5 Silent Signs of Poor Metabolic Health You Can Check Today](https://sustainmd.net/5-silent-signs-of-poor-metabolic-health-you-can-check-today/): Metabolic health plays a crucial role in your overall well-being, impacting everything from energy levels to long-term health risks such as diabetes and heart disease. At SustainMD, we believe in providing compassionate, stigma-free care focused on your health journey. Whether you're dealing with insulin resistance, PCOS, prediabetes, or other metabolic conditions, it’s important to recognize the subtle signs of poor metabolic health early on. In this blog, we'll highlight 5 silent signs of poor metabolic health that you can check today, helping you take proactive steps toward better health. With our services available in California, Florida, Maine, North Carolina, and now in-person care in Concord, NC, Dr. Allison Pope Barbee is committed to supporting you with sustainable, actionable health strategies. Continue reading to learn how to monitor and improve your metabolic health.
- [Is a Virtual Annual Physical Worth It? SimplyWell Plan Details](https://sustainmd.net/is-a-virtual-annual-physical-worth-it-simplywell-plan-details/): Skipping a yearly check-up is easier than most people realize. Life gets busy, appointments are hard to schedule, and sitting in a waiting room for routine preventive care doesn’t always feel worth the time.
- [The 4 Pillars of Medical Weight Loss: Beyond GLP-1 Medications](https://sustainmd.net/the-4-pillars-of-medical-weight-loss-beyond-glp-1-medications/): Medical weight loss has gained more attention in recent years, especially with the rise of GLP-1 medications. While these treatments can be helpful for some people, many individuals discover that medication alone does not address the full picture of weight management.
- [The Role of Sleep Apnea in Weight Gain (and How to Get Tested Online)](https://sustainmd.net/the-role-of-sleep-apnea-in-weight-gain-and-how-to-get-tested-online/): Many people struggle with weight gain or find it difficult to lose weight despite eating well and staying active. This experience can be frustrating, especially when lifestyle changes do not seem to produce results. One factor that is often overlooked in weight management is sleep quality.
- [Medical Weight Loss for Women Over 40: Hormones and Metabolism](https://sustainmd.net/medical-weight-loss-for-women-over-40-hormones-and-metabolism/): Many women notice a shift in their bodies after 40 that can feel confusing and discouraging. Weight gain may appear despite unchanged eating habits, and weight loss efforts that once worked no longer seem effective. This experience is common, yet often misunderstood.
- [Why Virtual Primary Care Is Ideal for Preventive Health? ](https://sustainmd.net/virtual-primary-care-is-ideal-for-preventive-health/): Preventive healthcare isn’t just about avoiding illness - it’s about staying one step ahead. Today, more people are turning to virtual primary care for convenience, consistency, and proactive medical support. With modern platforms like Sustain MD, preventive care has evolved from occasional checkups to continuous, ongoing monitoring that fits naturally into everyday life. Virtual preventive care helps patients stay engaged, identify risks earlier, and maintain healthier routines without the traditional barriers of scheduling, travel, or long wait times.
- [How Online Telemedicine Makes Healthcare More Accessible](https://sustainmd.net/online-telemedicine-makes-healthcare-more-accessible/): For many patients, accessing timely medical care is a constant challenge. Long waits, travel requirements, limited specialist availability, and logistical constraints often delay treatment and increase stress. Online telemedicine is revolutionizing healthcare by allowing patients to connect with providers from virtually anywhere, improving convenience and efficiency.
- [7 Benefits of Virtual Primary Care Over In-Person Visits](https://sustainmd.net/top-seven-advantages-of-virtual-primary-care/): Healthcare is evolving rapidly, and virtual primary care is leading the way in making medical care more accessible and convenient. Many patients ask: “Is it better to see a doctor in person or online?” Virtual primary care offers solutions for patients seeking consistent monitoring, chronic disease management, preventive care, or simple consultations- all without leaving home.
- [10 Best Obesity Management Guidelines for Women](https://sustainmd.net/obesity-management-guidelines-for-women/): Obesity is a complex, chronic disease, and for women, the journey is often complicated by unique hormonal shifts. Factors like puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) all influence metabolism and fat distribution. Treating this requires more than just willpower. It requires a strategic, medically informed approach.
- [How Mental Health and Weight Loss Work Together to Build a Healthier You](https://sustainmd.net/mental-health-weight-loss-connection/): Many people blame themselves when weight loss feels difficult. But the truth is that your mental health plays a major role in how your body manages weight. Stress, anxiety, sleep problems, and emotional struggles can all affect appetite, metabolism, and motivation.
- [Telehealth Awareness Week 2025: Start Building a Healthier Future](https://sustainmd.net/telehealth-awareness-week-2025/): This is the promise of telehealth, and this Telehealth Awareness Week 2025, we’re highlighting how this transformative technology is not just an alternative, but a cornerstone of the future of healthcare. It's time to understand the incredible benefits of telehealth and how it is making a healthier future a reality for everyone.
- [Role of Metabolic Syndrome Weight Loss and Metabolic Health in Sustainable Results](https://sustainmd.net/the-role-of-metabolic-health-in-sustainable-weight-loss/): Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right — cutting calories, exercising more, drinking more water — yet the scale refuses to budge? Or worse, you lose weight only to see it return within months? The problem often isn't willpower. For many patients, metabolic syndrome weight loss is the real challenge standing between them and lasting results, because underlying metabolic dysfunction makes the body actively resist change. Until those root causes are identified and treated, even the strictest diets can fail.
- [Why Obesity Is a Chronic Disease (And Why Quick Fixes Don’t Work)](https://sustainmd.net/why-obesity-is-a-chronic-disease-and-why-quick-fixes-dont-work/): Medical research now shows that obesity is a chronic disease, much like high blood pressure or diabetes. That means it requires long-term care and support, not short-term diets or quick fixes.

## Pages
- [Direct Primary Care in North Carolina](https://sustainmd.net/direct-primary-care-in-north-carolina/): U.S. News & World Report
- [Direct Primary Care in Florida](https://sustainmd.net/direct-primary-care-in-florida/): U.S. News & World Report
- [Direct Primary Care in Maine](https://sustainmd.net/direct-primary-care-in-maine/): U.S. News & World Report
- [Direct Primary Care in California](https://sustainmd.net/direct-primary-care-in-california/): U.S. News & World Report
- [Preventive Care & Health Screenings](https://sustainmd.net/preventive-care-online/): SustainMD makes preventive care accessible through telehealth. Dr. Allison Pope Barbee works with patients to identify health risks early, review screening needs, and build a plan for long-term wellness from the comfort of home.
- [Weight Loss for PCOS](https://sustainmd.net/weight-loss-for-pcos/): SustainMD offers a physician-guided PCOS weight loss program designed to address the hormonal and metabolic factors that make weight loss uniquely difficult for women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
- [Annual Wellness Visit](https://sustainmd.net/annual-wellness-visit-online/): SustainMD makes it easy to complete your annual wellness visit online. Dr. Allison Pope Barbee provides comprehensive virtual wellness exams so you can prioritize your health from home.
- [Prediabetes Treatment Online](https://sustainmd.net/prediabetes-treatment-online/): SustainMD offers a physician-guided prediabetes treatment program designed to help patients improve blood sugar control, lose weight, and reverse prediabetes before it progresses to type 2 diabetes. Dr. Allison Pope Barbee provides personalized metabolic care through telehealth.
- [Weight Loss for High Blood Pressure](https://sustainmd.net/weight-loss-for-high-blood-pressure/): SustainMD offers a physician-guided weight loss program that addresses the metabolic relationship between excess weight and high blood pressure. Dr. Allison Pope Barbee helps patients lose weight safely and effectively while actively managing their cardiovascular health.
- [Weight Loss for High Cholesterol](https://sustainmd.net/weight-loss-for-high-cholesterol/): SustainMD provides physician-guided weight loss care for patients with high cholesterol. Dr. Allison Pope Barbee develops personalized metabolic treatment plans that target the root causes of elevated cholesterol and support meaningful, lasting improvements in cardiovascular health.
- [Weight Loss for Menopause](https://sustainmd.net/weight-loss-for-menopause/): SustainMD offers a physician-guided weight loss program designed specifically for women navigating menopause and perimenopause. Dr. Allison Pope Barbee addresses the hormonal and metabolic changes that drive weight gain during this transition, helping patients restore balance and build a sustainable path toward better health.
- [Weight Loss Injections](https://sustainmd.net/weight-loss-injections-online/): SustainMD provides physician-prescribed weight loss injections through telehealth. Dr. Allison Pope Barbee evaluates your metabolic health, determines whether injectable medications are appropriate, and guides your treatment from consultation through ongoing care.
- [Chronic Disease Management](https://sustainmd.net/chronic-disease-management-online/): SustainMD offers personalized chronic disease management through telehealth. Dr. Allison Pope Barbee helps patients living with ongoing conditions build effective, sustainable care plans that improve quality of life and reduce long-term health risks.
- [HIPAA Privacy](https://sustainmd.net/hipaa-privacy/): THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
- [Privacy Policy](https://sustainmd.net/privacy-policy/): Sustain MD ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our facility or use our services.
- [Virtual Primary Care Doctor](https://sustainmd.net/virtual-primary-care-doctor/): SustainMD provides access to a virtual primary care doctor through our SimplyWell Direct Primary Care membership. Patients receive personalized, physician led care for preventive health, routine medical concerns, and ongoing wellness through secure telehealth visits.
- [Online Obesity Medicine Specialist](https://sustainmd.net/online-obesity-medicine-specialist/): SustainMD provides physician guided obesity medicine through telehealth. Our online program helps patients address the metabolic causes of weight gain and achieve sustainable weight loss with personalized medical care.
- [Weight Loss for Diabetes](https://sustainmd.net/virtual-weight-loss-for-diabetes/): SustainMD offers a physician supervised diabetic weight loss program designed to support people with type 2 diabetes through personalized medical treatment, metabolic care, and sustainable weight loss strategies delivered through telehealth.
- [Physician Supervised Weight Loss](https://sustainmd.net/virtual-physician-supervised-weight-loss-program/): SustainMD provides a physician supervised medical weight loss program designed to help patients address the metabolic causes of weight gain and achieve sustainable results through personalized telehealth care.
- [GLP-1 Weight Loss Treatment](https://sustainmd.net/glp-1-weight-loss-treatment-online/): SustainMD offers personalized GLP-1 weight loss treatment through a physician led telehealth program designed to support sustainable weight loss and improve metabolic health.
- [Fatigue Caused by Insulin Resistance](https://sustainmd.net/insulin-resistance-fatigue-treatment-online/): SustainMD provides physician guided care for people experiencing fatigue from insulin resistance. Our telehealth program focuses on improving metabolic health, restoring energy levels, and addressing the underlying causes of persistent fatigue.
- [PCOS and Insulin Resistance Treatment](https://sustainmd.net/pcos-insulin-resistance-treatment-online/): SustainMD offers personalized PCOS insulin resistance treatment through a physician led telehealth program focused on improving metabolic health, addressing hormonal weight gain, and supporting sustainable weight loss.
- [Metabolic Syndrome Treatment](https://sustainmd.net/metabolic-syndrome-treatment-online/): SustainMD provides personalized metabolic syndrome treatment through a physician led telehealth program designed to improve insulin resistance, support weight loss, and help patients regain control of their metabolic health.
- [Weight Loss for Insulin Resistance](https://sustainmd.net/weight-loss-for-insulin-resistance-online/): SustainMD offers a personalized insulin resistance weight loss program designed to help patients improve metabolic health, reduce stubborn weight gain, and restore energy through doctor led telehealth care.
- [North Carolina](https://sustainmd.net/north-carolina/): If you live in Concord and you're tired of weight loss programs that hand you a shot and wave goodbye, SustainMD works differently. Our practice is led by Dr. Allison Barbee, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician who treats weight and metabolic health the same way she treats the rest of your health: with a full history, a real plan, and follow-up that actually happens. You'll find our office at 851 Bradley St NE in Concord.
- [Bipolar Disorder](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/bipolar-disorder-support/): Living with bipolar disorder can mean navigating cycles of emotional highs and lows that affect daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. At SustainMD, we recognize that bipolar disorder also intersects with physical and metabolic health — influencing sleep, energy levels, appetite, and sometimes the effects of medications.
- [Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/hashimotos-thyroiditis-care/): Living with Hashimoto's can mean unexplained weight gain and low energy. We provide ongoing care to manage your thyroid health alongside your metabolic goals.
- [Parasomnias](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/parasomnias-care/): Sleepwalking is a type of parasomnia, where unusual behaviors occur during sleep. For many, it’s more than a childhood phase — adults may continue to experience episodes of walking, talking, or eating during sleep, leading to safety risks, poor rest, and daytime fatigue. These disruptions are also tied to obesity, metabolism, and overall health, since fragmented sleep can worsen insulin resistance, appetite regulation, and emotional well-being.
- [Narcolepsy](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/narcolepsy-care/): Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that disrupts the brain’s ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles. For patients, this often means sudden sleep episodes, overwhelming fatigue, or cataplexy (episodes of muscle weakness). Beyond daily exhaustion, narcolepsy is tied to obesity, metabolic health, and mental well-being, since disrupted sleep can alter hormones, increase insulin resistance, and affect mood.
- [Periodic Limb Movement Disorder](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/periodic-limb-movement-care/): Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) is a sleep-related condition that causes repetitive, involuntary leg movements during the night. These movements often disrupt sleep without a person realizing it, leading to daytime fatigue, brain fog, and mood changes.
- [Restless Legs Syndrome](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/restless-legs-syndrome-care/): Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) can make it difficult to relax, focus, or get restorative sleep. The uncomfortable urge to move your legs — especially at night — often leaves people feeling exhausted and frustrated.
- [Postpartum Health](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/postpartum-health-care/): The postpartum period brings major hormonal shifts. We offer whole-body care to help you recover your energy, balance, and healthy weight.
- [Infertility Support](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/infertility-support/): Struggling to conceive can feel overwhelming, touching every part of your physical and emotional well-being. At SustainMD, we recognize that infertility is not just about reproduction — it often overlaps with hormones, metabolism, weight, and overall health.
- [Neurodivergence](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/neurodivergent-support/): That’s why our care doesn’t attempt to “fix” neurodivergence. Instead, we adapt our obesity medicine and primary care approach so it works for you — respectful, stigma-free, and designed to build on your strengths.
- [Burnout](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/burnout-care/): Feeling emotionally drained, unmotivated, and unable to keep up with daily demands may be more than “just stress” — it could be burnout. Burnout is a state of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion that can affect your health, energy levels, relationships, and daily function.
- [Stress](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/stress-management-online/): If stress is taking over your days and affecting your health, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to face it without support. Stress doesn’t just impact your mood; it can also influence sleep, eating habits, weight, and overall metabolic health.
- [Executive Dysfunction](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/executive-dysfunction-support/): Executive dysfunction is not laziness or a lack of discipline — it’s a challenge with the brain’s ability to manage, organize, and carry out daily tasks. When these “mental manager” skills are disrupted, responsibilities can feel overwhelming, deadlines slip by, and follow-through becomes difficult.
- [Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/ocd-support-online/): Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is often misunderstood as just being “particular” or “liking things neat.” In reality, it’s a deeply disruptive condition that can take over your time, energy, and peace of mind.
- [ADHD](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/adhd-adult-support-online/): Living With ADHD as an Adult
- [Depression](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/depression-care-telehealth/): Mental health and physical health are deeply connected. Our telehealth providers support you through depression as part of your overall care plan.
- [Anxiety](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/anxiety-care-online/): We offer compassionate virtual support for anxiety, integrated with your physical health goals for a more complete approach to wellness.
- [Blog](https://sustainmd.net/resources/blog/)
- [Guides & Downloads](https://sustainmd.net/resources/health-guides/)
- [Testimonials](https://sustainmd.net/resources/patient-testimonials/)
- [Book A Consultation](https://sustainmd.net/book-consultation/): Please complete this form to begin your journey with SustainMD. This process allows us to perform a detailed review of your medical history and health goals, analyze targeted lab work to understand your unique metabolic and hormonal profile, and ultimately develop a fully personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
- [Fullscript Supplement Dispensary](https://sustainmd.net/resources/supplement-dispensary/): Fullscript is a trusted online dispensary for healthcare practitioners and their patients. It offers a vast selection of high-quality supplements from reputable brands, ensuring you have access to the best products for your specific health needs. Fullscript only stocks products from trusted, professional-grade brands. This means you can be confident that the supplements you’re taking are safe, effective, and backed by scientific research. With SustainMD Supplement Dispensary using Fullscript, you can easily order supplements recommended by Dr. Barbee and have them delivered directly to your door.
- [FAQs](https://sustainmd.net/resources/faqs/): Yes! Dr. Barbee is fully licensed to practice medicine and provide telemedicine services in California, Florida, Maine, and North Carolina, the states where SustainMD currently offers virtual care. 
- [Contact](https://sustainmd.net/contact/): Dr. Barbee is here to listen — without judgment, without rushed appointments, and without middlemen. When you reach out, you’re not speaking to a call center. You're contacting your doctor directly.
- [Resources](https://sustainmd.net/resources/)
- [Pricing](https://sustainmd.net/membership-pricing/): At SustainMD, we believe in building lasting, trusted relationships with our patients. If you’ve been a long-term patient or are resuming care with Dr. Barbee from one of her previous practices, you may be eligible for exclusive membership pricing as a thank-you for your continued trust.
- [Hypothyroidism](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/hypothyroidism-management/): Fatigue, weight changes, mood shifts, and brain fog are common struggles for people living with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. These conditions affect the thyroid’s ability to regulate metabolism, energy, and hormones — which can disrupt daily life in significant ways.
- [Conditions](https://sustainmd.net/conditions/): At SustainMD, we believe in whole-person healthcare — where your weight, hormones, mental health, energy, and chronic conditions are all connected. Led by Dr. Allison Barbee, a board-certified obesity medicine doctor and online primary care physician, our virtual weight loss clinic supports patients with a wide range of health concerns.
- [Insulin Resistance Boot Camp](https://sustainmd.net/programs/insulin-resistance-boot-camp/): The Insulin Resistance Boot Camp at SustainMD is a structured 3-month metabolic health program designed to help patients improve insulin sensitivity, increase energy, and address the underlying causes of metabolic dysfunction.Led by Dr. Allison Barbee, a board-certified physician with advanced training in obesity medicine, this physician guided metabolic health program combines medical care, metabolic monitoring, and practical lifestyle strategies.Patients receive care through telehealth insulin resistance treatment, allowing consistent physician support from home.
- [SimplyWell Plan DPC](https://sustainmd.net/programs/simplywell-direct-primary-care-lite/): The SimplyWell Preventive Care Plan from SustainMD is a simple, affordable way to stay on top of your health through direct primary care telemedicine. This online primary care subscription gives patients access to preventive services, screenings, and a trusted physician without the stress of insurance paperwork, waiting rooms, or rushed appointments.
- [Medical Weight Loss](https://sustainmd.net/programs/medical-weight-loss/): Welcome to SustainMD’s virtual medical weight loss program, where expert care meets convenience. Led by Dr. Allison Barbee, a Board-Certified Family Medicine physician with more than 20 years of experience, this telehealth weight loss program helps patients lose weight safely, sustainably, and without judgment.
- [Programs](https://sustainmd.net/programs/): At SustainMD, we don’t just treat symptoms — we support your health journey with tailored care models that fit your needs. Whether you’re managing weight, addressing insulin resistance, or seeking ongoing preventive care, our programs provide structured support, physician access, and science-backed solutions.
- [About Dr. Barbee](https://sustainmd.net/about-sustainmd/dr-allison-barbee/): Dr. Allison Barbee is a Board-Certified Family Physician with nearly 20 years of experience providing thoughtful, compassionate medical care for patients of all ages. Her expertise spans preventive health, acute illness, chronic disease management, and — most notably — obesity and metabolic health.
- [About](https://sustainmd.net/about-sustainmd/): At SustainMD, we're redefining the experience of primary care and medical weight loss through personalized virtual care. Led by Dr. Allison Barbee, a board-certified physician with two decades of clinical experience, SustainMD is a telemedicine practice built around access, trust, and evidence-based treatment.
- [Home](https://sustainmd.net/): SustainMD is a physician-led, virtual care practice that blends the benefits of medical weight loss telemedicine with convenient, personalized chronic disease management. Our goal is simple: provide compassionate, high-touch care through a virtual model that fits your lifestyle.