Sehbaz Sabri has had prediabetes for the past six years. While his blood sugar has increased, his A1C has stayed below 6.0. His physician placed him on metformin at age 50 because of his family history. Many of his family members have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. His family history also includes heart disease and high blood pressure; Sehbaz’ father had two open heart surgeries before he was 57 (Sehbaz’ current age).
His family also includes nurses and doctors. “There’s nothing like having three people manage your health, none of whom is actually your doctor,” he jokes.
In 2020, Sebhaz collapsed while riding his indoor bike and was taken to the hospital. He was diagnosed with a severe case of COVID, causing heart problems, liver issues and debilitating fatigue. His sister, who is a nurse, visited regularly to care for him.
Before his COVID diagnosis, he took only three daily medications. After COVID, they increased to seven. The virus affected his liver but it has since returned to normal. His fatigue is improving with supplements.
In May 2024, Sehbaz’s blood sugar started creeping into the 130s and his A1C increased to 6.2, the highest it has ever been. Both Sehbaz’s physician and his dietitian recommended the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). Since he started the virtual DPP in June 2024, he has lost 30 lbs, his blood sugar dropped to 105 and his A1C is 5.3.
He is over halfway through the program and making excellent progress. His class, comprised of nine participants, is now meeting monthly through June 2025.
When Sehbaz started the virtual DPP, he appreciated not having to drive anywhere. The first classes were a review of what he had learned from his dietitian. Then it became interesting – the relationships between carbohydrates and proteins and how to replace unhealthy foods with healthier ones. He learned about preparing a healthy food plate – 50% veggies, 25% carbs, 25% protein.
“I’ve always been careful with my diet. I ate a lot of veggies but not 50% veggies,” states Sehbaz. “When I started looking through my cupboards, I thought, ‘I can’t eat all this stuff.’ We had to go out and buy some things — we started looking at labels and following the label reading guidance from the class.”
Sehbaz shared the DPP information with his wife, who was very supportive and adopted the changes herself. The Sabris now eat fish two or three times a week. He takes tuna for lunch. “She understands and adjusts with me,” he explains. “I try not to prevent myself from eating anything. I’ll just have more salad or more protein to balance the meal. I have reduced my intake of carbohydrates. I’m really strict about how much I allow myself. But I always allow myself a few bites of steak or pizza.”
At their 34th wedding anniversary dinner, Sehbaz had a few spoonfuls of crème brûlée and noticed how very sweet it was, and how much his tastes had changed.
Sehbaz, who lives out in the country south of Grand Rapids, mentions that it’s harder to get fresh vegetables in the winter. Still, he eats close to the DPP plan, watching what raises his blood sugar and then reducing or substituting for that item. He has experimented with amounts of very dark chocolate (80% cacao). He has given up pasta and pizza and substituted rice or potatoes. His regular diet includes whole grains, citrus fruits and berries.
He found the healthy snacks module very helpful, learning about the fats inside foods, like cheeses. “Dietary changes were the best topics. My snacks are now baby cukes, baby carrots, multi-grain crackers and low-fat mozzarella cheese,” he says. Sehbaz feels that the best part of the DPP for him was knowing what he needed to change in the foods he ate, that this made the most difference to him.
By tracking his eating, activity and weight on a fitness app, Sehbaz has maintained his weight loss. “I am down two inches in the waist and losing more. My clothes are fitting more loosely and I had to buy new pants. Hopefully by the summer, I’ll discard those and buy even smaller clothes,” he says happily. “My focus right now is losing more weight around my middle. My goal is to lose 30 more lbs. by June 2025.
Sehbaz has always been physically active. The fatigue from COVID had made activity difficult, but it is lessening. He bikes in his basement, does strength training with resistance bands and stretching. He looks forward to outdoor cycling in the warmer months.
In the DPP, he learned the rate at which you need to exercise, such as walking for longer times at a faster pace. In the nonwinter months, he walks 30 to 40 minutes every morning and evening, six days a week. “Walking is effective,” he says. “I time myself and try to beat myself. I already wore out one pair of walking shoes this past year!”
“The DPP is really valuable to me personally,” concludes Sehbaz. “I’m able to take something away from every class.”
He is also very honest about what participants need to do to succeed in the DPP:
“You have to be very conscientious and commit to the program. A lot of people don’t want to make dietary changes but you have to make them and stick with them. Otherwise, it doesn’t work. It’s not a diet; it is a lifestyle change for how you’re going to eat and how you’re going to live your life. You need to be comfortable with that.”
For more information on the Diabetes Prevention Program, go here.