After Improving Diabetes, Brooklyn Man is a “Walking Miracle”

A frightening diagnosis in the Emergency Room led Samuel Rios to the Lifestyle Medicine Program and saves his life

Throughout his 20’s and 30’s, Brooklyn native Samuel Rios lived on fast foods and sugary drinks, unaware of the dire impact on his health. By the age of 44, his diet, which centered on pizza, fries, candy bars and ice cream, contributed to a diabetes diagnosis.

“I was eating everything,” he recalled.  “I used to think, ‘I’m going to eat however I feel like it’. And I didn’t know I was killing myself.”

In February 2024, while working from his home, Samuel’s vision became blurry and he began feeling dizzy and faint. He went to the emergency room at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull and was admitted. Doctors found his blood sugar levels were extremely high. For the next three weeks, he remained in the hospital until his condition became stable.

“The doctors told me I was a very sick man,” Samuel said. “They said if I didn’t change my lifestyle I would be underground soon.”

Determined to turn his life around, Samuel enrolled in the Lifestyle Medicine Program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull in March 2024. After six months in the program, Samuel improved his A1C levels from a dangerously high level of 11.3% to 5.7% and was able to discontinue insulin. He also lost 45 pounds.

Listen to the podcast episode on the Lifestyle Medicine

“Joining the Lifestyle Medicine Program was the best decision I ever made,” he said.

“Before this year, I knew I had diabetes and I had been hospitalized before for it. I tried changing my lifestyle habits on my own, and I almost didn’t make it. This program taught me so much about how to eat. I learned exercises I could do in my chair, and now I’m able to go for a walk every day. I sleep better, my stress levels are better, and I feel more confident.”

Since it began in 2019, the NYC Health + Hospitals Lifestyle Medicine Program, now available in all 5 boroughs, has helped hundreds of patients like Samuel adopt lifestyle changes to become healthier and live longer lives. The 6-to-9-month program provides patients with support from a team of doctors, nurse practitioners, registered dietitians, certified health coaches, community health workers, psychologists, program coordinators, and a fitness instructor to help them reach their goals.

With guidance from Woodhull Lifestyle Medicine Program Director Dr. Gül Bahtiyar, Health Coach Stephanie Vasquez, and several registered dietitians, Samuel learned how to make healthy food substitutions, find the right balance of different foods on his plate, practice mindfulness, and perform exercises that allowed for his limited mobility due to gout pain.  

Samuel’s family has also been supportive throughout his journey. After seeing his success, some have even started following his example by adjusting their eating habits and joining him on his walks on the track at McCarren Park in Willamsburg.  

Dr. Bahtiyar was overwhelmed with emotion as she discussed Samuel’s remarkable journey. “I want to thank you because you put the work in and you trusted us. There were no ‘buts’. We walked the road with you, but in the end you did it,” she said to Samuel, her voice filled with pride and admiration.

Samuel is now eager to share his story with the world in the hopes of inspiring others to enroll in the Lifestyle Medicine Program and make life-changing choices. “I’m a walking miracle,” he said. “This is a calling for me. If I can be one of those voices that helps people change I’m all for it.”