Hi, poolkid83,
Welcome to the starting gate of the wild Diabetic Roller Coaster ride. You will have your ups and downs, highs and lows, and extreme frustrations in what you can and cannot eat.
My first comment is, yes, for sure, you need a meter. After all, how do know what works and what does not? My endocrinologist said the same thing - no more testing needed - and then in the classes afterwards by the diabetes nutritionist we are told to watch and monitor our glucose levels. I was using one as soon as my family doctor said that it looked like I had pre-diabetes. Be pro-active, not re-active! It is your life, your body, your health.
X Porridge
X Pasta
X bananas
X Kiwi
X sweet corn and sweet peas
Well, maybe not as drastic as complete withdrawal, but moderation and CARB COUNTING is the key. Basic guideline is 30 Carbs for a meal, 15 Carbs for a snack. LOL, you won't starve to death if you find the right foods to keep the carbs down to those numbers. Carbohydrates, Fibre, and Serving size is what you look for on the Nutrition labels of food products. Learn to read the labels like your life and health depends on it ... well, it does. You don't feel organ degradation until it is too late, so be pro-active and prevent.
If you are overweight, try to slim back a little at a time. Just following the Carb counting guidelines will help in this area. Skinny people have diabetes too, so weight is not always the factor
As far as Metformin goes, search the forum for user experiences and suggestions. I don't and won't use it but others swear by it. Everybody's body is like a different combination lock. Size, age, weight, other medical inflictions, allergies, and other meds being taken. Too many combinations for anybody to give an exact solution for you - you will eventually find your own. But this forum is the best "go to" resource you will ever find to help you on your journey.