I bought my own test strips and did tests for what made my sugar high..
Been drinking semi skimmed for years as its supposed to be healthier with less fat.
Guess what Whole milk raises my sugar a lot less.
I don't think counting calories is the right way... You pile on fat with high sugar levels lactose and fructose are both sugars made into fat first.
Whole milk is better as the milk fat reacts with peptin and solidifies in your stomach so is digested slowly.
Skimmed and semi skimmed have less fat but still lot of lactose so I understand why they raise sugar levels.
It is not really how much sugar you eat but how fast the sugar is digested.
Eg. a sugar cube swallowed in a kinder egg shell or wrapped in plastic would likely not raise your sugar levels at all.

Most of the sugar in your blood is actually produced by your own body.
The best way to improve your tolerance is lose weight and get fitter.
A little fast exercise every day is now the 'in' way to increase your metabolism. Don't take the lift, walk down a floor and up again. Walk, cycle to local shop rather than drive to supermarket, etc..
One other thing about milk Whole milk, it is a great source of protein needed for body repairs/healing.
It also has masses of calcium also used in immune system and in binding vitamins/metals from digestion.
Don't cut out food/drinks just because of sugar levels.
From what I have read, eating apples and or drinking whole milk before meals makes people eat less.
Apple skin has pectin which slows the peristaltic wave and lots of fiber too, whole milk solidifies and will slow the emptying of the stomach.
Coffee is supposed to fend off diabetes initially but if you are diabetic then it raises sugar but still helps.
Just go caffein free coffee as it doesn't raise sugar levels and also helps arteries/heart with free radicals etc.
Same with red wine and alcohol in small measures.
I found a table spoon of Jagermeister lowers my sugar level if taken before eating.
One meal I found easy to make is leak and cabbage soup.. add chicken or Quorn pieces and take half out before blending it all.
Easy to vary it with frozen chilli, garlic or corriander cubes.
It's the same problem with the food industry using frustose corn syrup to sweeten everything.
A law should be passed making the amnount of fuctose syrup used be in the contents.
At the moment it just says sugars or sweeteners..
I am not as bothered with trying to keep sugar levels level all the time. I think increasing veg fiber and things like lecithin from tomato paste etc will help contract the main problems with diabetes.
I am also trying to