I am British, but live on the East Coast of the United States. My HbA1C was 8.3% (67) at diagnosis in February of this year, which is high and firmly in the diabetic range, but not astronomical. This was a routine medical and the T2D was diagnosed in a blood test (I had no symptoms) so it was like a bolt of lightning out of the blue.
I am 6-foot-4 and have been thin and weedy much of my life, although over the past decade my waistline had expanded to 40 inches (nine months later, it is 35 inches) even though my BMI was "only" 21.7. I was someone who took quite a lot of exercise (and used public transport, and walked a lot) but it was irregular. I also spend much of my life anchored behind a desk.
Due to laziness, I had skipped my annual medicals for many years. The previous A1C test was in 2009, when it was 5.5% (37) which is just on the edge of pre-diabetes, but not in itself a cause for concern, and I was not given any kind of warning. It is only with the benefit of hindsight that one can see a "trend."
Then I had a huge stroke of luck. It turns out that my doctor, who is a mainstream American GP of almost exactly my age with no "alternative medicine" tendencies whatsoever, happens to believe in the benefits of trying the "low-carb diet, more exercise, no meds" option. The conversation went something like this:
I said that I had been reading up about diabetes and found it all quite scary. His response:
"It is what it is. Who knows, you may just have a genetic factor that predisposed you. We've made progress. I'm seeing less of the 'old days' when people went blind or had their limbs amputated."
I asked him how high my HbA1C was (by then, I had done some research).
"It's 8.3% [67]." (I winced!) "Let's try something. Look, if it had been 15% [140] or something, then, I would put you on drugs immediately. But I'd like you to try changing your diet instead. Stop getting your sugar from Domino's [UK translation: Tate & Lyle]. Adopt a low-carbohydrate diet. Exercise a bit more. Make another appointment for two months from now, we'll test it again and see how things are going."
Notably, he did not provide any specific dietary advice apart from the above paragraph. Not exactly a detailed prescription, eh? My wife, who was present at the consultation, asked if I should consult a dietician. The doctor said that might be a good idea, but he did not press the issue.
So: Wonderful doctor, as I now know. But a bit thin on the details, eh?
I then spent weeks figuring it all out for myself. I did not know about this forum, but I did quickly discover
https://www.dietdoctor.com/ (thank goodness). I joined the American Diabetic Association and bought all sorts of ADA-recommended books about diabetic cookery (all of which are now being binned because it turns out they are all high-carb).
For the first two months, I was scared s***l*** I must admit. I was almost certain that the low-carb diet wouldn't work, or would have only a minor effect (because that is what my research into medical studies seemed to show). I was convinced I was going to an early grave, blah, blah.
For those two months: carbs fewer than 30g per day, coupled with strict portion control. I gave up booze. I made sure to walk five miles per day, every day, even in sub-zero weather. I lost 10KG. I was a pretty unpleasant, obsessive individual. I kept my diagnosis hidden from everyone except my wife (because I did not yet know "how things were going to go").
Then the big shock (as big a shock as the initial diagnosis): Two months later I had brought the BG to below diabetic levels. The doctor was chuffed and averred that this was an "excellent job." Six months after diagnosis, my A1C was even lower and the doctor's response (scribbled on the test result sheet) was: "Wow!!!"
My next A1C test is coming up (next week). At this point, I have relaxed a lot. I abandoned the portion control (I no longer need to lose weight). I reduced the walks down to three miles a day. After getting that shocking (in a good way) A1C result at two months, I resumed drinking alcohol, but in moderation (in the past, I was an immoderate drinker, including too much beer which may have been a factor in developing T2D).
The one thing I am still extremely strict about is keeping to the low-carb diet and three miles walking every day.
I don't even really care if my A1C creeps up a bit because I now have a good "cushion" -- I would only be concerned if it turns out to be an upward trend, over time.
I don't even self-test my BG levels (and never have). The sole indicator is an A1C test done at the clinic every three months.
So that's my story, and I apologize for being a bit of a windbag (for the numbers, see my signature below). I consider myself to be really lucky, and that is why I chose the user name "Grateful" upon joining this forum. But if I can do it, others (if their medical circumstances permit) can do it too.
I was about to write "good luck" but luck doesn't have all that much to do with it. You are already taking control, and that is what matters. Best wishes.