Hi @A DiabetesTeam Member, and warriors,
Diagnosed February 2021, A1C 13.5. Low 5s since.

Most of my meals look like stir-fry, eggs, soup, salads, or some combination of the above. Baby steps.

I eat to blood glucose meter, my blood glucose numbers spreadsheet, and my food journal. They tell me what foods I can eat somewhat freely, what foods I must limit, and what foods I must almost totally avoid. I am limited to 5 carbs per meal to stay in my range of nondiabetic numbers of 4.0(72) to 7.8(140). Baby steps.

I control my diabetes with right eating, portion control, Japanese science and medicine, exercise if your doctors allow, attitude, and a compelling reason to do what is necessary. I dropped 62 pounds in the 1st year to bring my BMI down to 24.8. I sleep 6-7 hours nightly, 8 is better. I do 10-15 minutes self care daily. Baby steps.

I test at least 4-6 times daily.
1) upon waking- fasting blood glucose number, less than 7.0(126) is good.
2) 2 hours after eating my most carb laden meal, 7.8(140).
3) before exercising, looking for 6.7(120).
4) before bed, 5.7(103), if lower I adjust, I hate hypos 3.9(70).

I am half Japanese and a recovering rice-aholic, I ate rice 2-3 meals a day my whole life. Baby steps.

The Japanese medical mindset says get to the source of the problem and correct it, don't just treat symptoms with medications. Baby steps.

I plate my food before eating on a 7 inch plate --- portion control. The Japanese say 1/2 plate of very low carb vegetables, 1/4 plate of protein, 1/4 plate 1 serving of high fiber whole grain carb or 1 serving of carb friendly whole fruit. Baby steps.

The Japanese also say to walk 10-15 minutes immediately after eating, redirecting blood from digestion to muscles slowing digestion, flattening the glucose spike. Baby steps.

Glucose spikes are the enemy and lead to many complications associated with diabetes. Such as neuropathy, retinopathy, kidney disease, heart disease, blindness, brain damage, etc.

Some of my go to very low carb vegetables are cruciferous - cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, bok Choi, brussel sprouts, napa cabbage, Chinese cabbage, kale, etc. - and cucumbers, egg plant, zucchini, summer squash, some spaghetti squash, green beans, snow peas, sugar snap peas, mushrooms, tomatoes, carrots, parsnips, radishes, beets, turnips, rutabaga, asparagus, greens of all types including spinach, lettuces, collards, turnip greens, radish greens, poke weed, etc, young fiddlehead ferns, celery, green onions, leeks, chives, onions, garlic, parsley, mints, dandelion greens, endive, watercress, gourmet greens, ginger, cilantro, basil, some flower pedals like mints, pansies, chamomile and squash blossoms. I eat avocado too, it is 1 net carb per serving. Baby steps.

I wish for you more good days than bad and have many exceptional days too.

Be the Samurai Warrior you never knew you were.
You got this.
Never give up, never surrender, never ever.

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A Diabete...

You need to take control back.Identify why the meds don't work and tell your meds supplier.This may mean a bit of hard work but should be worth it.Research the meds you've been given so you know what they are supposed to do.

Two very large, long running studies - the Look Ahead (US) and DiRECT (UK) looked for the formula to achieve what you are asking

The DiRECT Study has been adapted into a (program) currently available in the UK and Canada and it results in nearly 70% of participants getting off all meds and maintaining "non-diabetic" blood glucose levels

The "formula" is quite simple it is the implementation that most people can't achieve

First, you MUST get down to normal weight (BMI 18.5-25) - this is nothing about fat shaming or body positive

Type 2 Diabetes is a metabolic disorder and it can never be totally and effectively controlled if you are Overweight or Obese - period - no discussion

The method used by the (program) is, under doctors supervision, you go on a an extreme low calorie diet (850 calories) until the weight comes off and then food is gradually reintroduced maintaining weight stability

(I did it myself using a 1650 calorie/day diet - but it took just on a year - but lost and kept 60 pounds off for over 7 years)

Second, you must eat "low carb" - either a maximum of 130 carbs/day OR 26% of your daily calories (whichever is lower) - so when I was consuming 1650 cal X 26%, my Carb allowance was 107 carbs - you "may" have to eat less depending on the level of advancement of your diabetes and personal insulin impairment

Third, you need to start a "dedicated" exercise program - you don't have to train for Iron Man competitions but you need to dedicate 20 to 40 minutes a day "specifically" for exercise - a walk after supper is "enough" - I worked in a warehouse - loading/unloading, heavy items, up/down stairs, back and forth - over 14,000 steps a day according to my smart watch but that was NOT exercise - that was my "regular level of activity" - exercise must be "in addition too" whatever you are currently doing

If you do all those things - NEVER CHEAT and NEVER MAKE EXCUSES why you can't - stay motivated every day, count, measure, weigh, chart if you have to and pretty much plan everything that you put in your mouth, you have high odds of doing it

THEN - when you get there like I did in November of 2016, then you have to keep up that effort "for the rest of your life"

It can be done

Most don't have to drive

If you do, there is a couple of us here that can cheerlead or coach a little along the way

But you have to want this. You have to be willing to not make excuses. You have to give 110% every minute of every day and stay vigilant

Me - Diagnosed August 2016 - A1C 6.9
Feb 2017 - Present - No meds, BMI 22.5, A1C 5.4-5.6

If I can do it anyone can, but you need to believe in yourself and really really want it

@A DiabetesTeam Member Graham is right, you have to make up your mind to lose weight and cut carbs and never look back it’s been a little over two years since my diagnosis. I lost 45 lbs in 6 months and have been able to maintain give or take a few pounds. I’m currently not on meds and hope to keep it that way for as long as possible. My A1C,started at 7.1 and is 5.9 currently but I was slacking on exercise after I had surgery and it definitely made a difference. We are back at it so I am hopeful it will drop.

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A Diabete...

That was the most motivating post I've read in a long time @A DiabetesTeam Member ! @A DiabetesTeam Member I will echo the others-it CAN be done-but takes learning new info and trying new things. I haven't gotten as healthy as Graham and some others have, but I continue to work at it (I work at tortoise speed by nature). In 18 months, I've lowered my A1C from 6.4 to 5.8 (new test due soon). Lowered my bp as well and went off most of my prescriptions. I lost 45 pounds now and 8" off my waistline and went down 4 dress sizes. This was accomplished by eating 1500 calories, reducing my carbs a great deal, and gradually adding more demanding activities over time. I started out weeding in my garden, while sitting on a plastic milk crate (the most I could do) and gradually added walking, yoga, swimming, dancing, etc...as I got stronger and more flexible. My challenges included a carb addiction and night eating disorder. Instead of living to eat (to feel better emotionally), I now eat to live. Baby steps is the way to do it! What you described so well about the medical community is country-wide, not just in small towns. At some point I realized the same as you and then realized I had to "save" myself.

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A Diabete...

A Diabete...