If you want to make changed slowly, then one change ought to be a switch from 'cereal' to something that is slow-release carbs, with absolutely no added sugar anywhere - porridge made from whole rolled oats, is tons better than weetabix, for instance.
Ditch the orange juice, which is sugar plain and simple and substitute water or sugar free squash. Milk has carbs too, so dont start drinking it by the gallon.
Chuck out the white sliced and get in wholemeal bread which you can ration yourself to - dont start making a pile of wholemeal sandwiches, for instance and crisps will be a treat for high days and holidays.
The problem you had when you went to bed was 'cos your body was loaded up with excess sugar and got rid of it as fast as possible - make sure you dont go to bed soon after a carby snack or meal. If you're hungry at bedtime, have some cheese or peanut butter on a low-carb cracker, or wrap a slice of lean ham round a bit of cheese and have that.
Take the meds and allow yourself to experiment with your meter (which you need to get if you dont have one already) so that you gain an understanding of how your body reacts to the various foods.
Read as much here as you can and then choose - try and test - see which approach fits you best. There's the low carb method, the reduced carb method and the one that has a dismal success rate - the 'i'll eat anything i like and not worry' method! Note that the low carb and the reduced/non-low carb method both really rely on keeping a good grip on carb intake, one way or another. That's because all carbs convert to sugar of one form or another, once eaten.
My advice would be not to panic but to congratulate yourself on finding this site and on beginning to take control of your disease. Dont be rushed into choosing any one method of control until you have experimented and learnt more. Be gentle with yourself; all that time of being in denial means that now you are facing facts, you dont need to berate yourself for what went on before. One day at a time, i say.
Diabetes and exrcise, reduced carbs and making sure you look after your whole body and get enough rest are all inter-linked. You'll be amazed how, in a few weeks, you start to feel less tired, more alert and generally far better than you have felt lately. It's a journey, this diabetes and we're here to offer support for whatever you do - even if that support sometimes means a deep sigh and a shake of the head! LOL.
Keep taking those meds, keep altering your diet and keep us up to speed with how it's going. Ask anything 'cos someone here will know an answer.
bunty