It is a fast growing club, I have been a type 2 now for going on 15 years. Here are a few things I have learned:

1) take charge of it. Your doctors will display as much interest in helping you as you display in helping yourself. If they tell you to do something, do it. If you do not understand something, ask.

2) test frequently and keep the results and show to the Doctor.

3) Exercise, (walking is best for me) is critically important and shows measurable effects on blood sugar levels on days I walk and those I don't.

4) Do not fear insulin! I was on pills for a long time and always felt sick. I started on insulin and felt my old self come back in less than 2 days. There are 24 hour types of insulin, so you might need only one shot a day. I have a feeling that with fasting blood sugars of the mid-200's they will start you on pills. I had fasting blood sugars in the low 300s when diagnosed, and was started on pills. If I had to do it over again, knowing what I know now, I would start on insulin (e.g. "lantus") right away. On insulin, I get fasting blood sugars in the 80-100 range and A1C's of 6.0 to 6.2. You want your A1C to be below 7.0: below 6.0 is "normal."

It is great you are looking at your diet. Read labels: sugar is hidden in the most unlikely places and in large amounts. Remember that 4 grams of sugar is equal +/- to one teaspoon of table sugar. Do the math on the "teaspoon" content on a 12 oz can of cola and you will be amazed. However, diet and exercise may not be enough to get your control where you need to be.

Lastly, one of the most expensive parts of this disease is the cost of the tests strips if you are paying out of pocket. The big "brand name" meter strips will run anywhere from .75 to $1.00 per strip, and you may be testing several times a day. I found the cheapest place to get a meter and strips was Wallyworld's house brand and strips, via on line order (100 strip box), bringing the cost per strip down to the 43 cent range. One of our local chain drug stores (Rite-aid) also has their house brand with similar pricing. Skipping testing can get you into trouble fast: it is not something that can be ignored.

It is a very individual disease and these are my experiences; I hope you find them useful. Think of it this way: your body used to be on "automatic" but is now on "manual" and you have the controls in your hands.