Dear Danny and Nicola and all newly diagnosed diabetics!
Looks as tho you are going through the first shock and discovery phase of being diabetic. I have been fortunate enough to live for part of the year in the USA and most of the year in the UK. I have heard this sort of problem expressed so often, both sides of the Atlantic!
First and foremost, it is your life and you need to make the decisions for yourself. You have to live each day with this, not your nurse or doctor. A good team will support you in making the right decisions. Help you learn your individual reactions to specific foods and specific food combinations. For instance, if exercising vigorously you might be able to eat and enjoy a small, finger, style banana. You might get away with using the same amount in a meal as long as you take the total carbs for the meal! Like OK with a salad, but not OK with two slices of bread.
If you are in USA you might not get your testing strips through your insurance cover. But you will probably have access to training programs and a good, well trained diabetic nurse. I started low-carb counting when I paid for some support in the U.S.A. It paid dividends. I would not let anyone stop me testing to learn my individual reactions to food or food combinations. I have a lovely lady friend who brings a banana to golf when we play. She breaks off the top for me to enjoy with her! That's a true friend and is a lovely gift to me. My husband often shares a fruit bowl with me so I can enjoy a little melon, a few grapes etc with him. But no way would I eat a bunch of grapes or a whole banana. But raspberries with a salad and protein are delicious!
When I was first diagnosed with Type II it was very overwhelming. But a chiropodist said to me, 'you'll probably more likely to live a full life than most non-diabetics, because you know you have to take your health seriously'. As I have gone through over ten years since then, I came to understand - this diabetes is better than a lot of other conditions because you can help yourself! I don't get it right all the time but exercise, nutritionally healthy eating and consistent medication treatment (no missed dosing) can give you a better life.
So, yes, be shocked. But stay on the forums, get educated, learn to make the right decisions for you and fight bureaucracy and ignorance as necessary.
I am fitter, stronger and have lost over 14lbs in weight, especially with low carb, average 'natural fat' eating. Get friends and family to support you if you can! Stay strong, stay making your own choices. I do hope the next year or so finds you in a more peaceful, more informed place.