I had been Type2 diabetic for quite a few years when I discovered this forum. Not knowing any different and not realising I should question it, I had been following the Eatwell plate for years since diagnosis, as recommended and I think I did quite well, no medication apart from the first couple of months, for 13 years, did okay, then metformin for the last 3 years.....having to go on to medication made me question things and I joined this forum...
I embraced the LCHF way of eating..... my results were better overall but I wasn't happy as I didn't understand why I had been doing relatively well without knowing about it so I tested, tested, tested.
What I have discovered is that I'm an individual, as are we all. I may be diabetic but I can eat milk chocolate, rice, many fruits apart from ones ending in 'berry', eg, mangoes, nectarines, kiwis, with hardly any raising of my bs. I can't tolerate pasta, mashed potatoes, bread, pastry etc., so for me, apart from rice, its the 'unsweet' carbs which affect me more. Who knows how much different foods affected me before this, because I don't, I looked at my food intake too generally.
So, the reason I'm really grateful that I joined this forum, is because its made me look at ALL the foods I eat. My last HbA1c was 43, the one before 48, the one before that 53. DN surprised but pleased, next one due soon, expecting it to stay about the same, fingers crossed.
So for me, I find that testing is the way to go and I think its disgraceful that we can't get monitors and strips on prescription now, luckily I can afford them but not sure about that when I retire soon, I think it would save money spent on diabetes care in the long run if they were still prescribed freely.