Cat lady. Your experience with "insulin" is regarding a "diabetic cat on Lantus" you mentioned owning once in a thread.. I can't speak for everything else you've read about.

(OK, to be fair. You have mentioned a couple of seemingly uncontrolled T1 freinds too.)
My HCPs would not be "proactive enough" if I didn't divulge or was honest about my lifestyle & diatary habits during consultations..
& neither would yours..
T1 I dependant 39 years experience speaking here.. Insulin therapy opens up a whole new "can o worms". It's not a temporary quick fix. It takes a lot of adjustment.. Constantly!!
The focus should be on the OPs self confessed secret high cab snacking. Then work from there. He will get plenty of support for that.. Then see where it stands.?