@AdamJames I a version of lifestyle I would recommend based one what I have been through. This is a quick summary of my experience since January 2015. Initial drop from 20+ to 16 mmol in one week by watching carbs (should have kept on this road with a 20% drop whilst still not eating right for me (home made banana cake)). Started on Metformin, 1 then 2 tablets. Embarked on a low GI diet of soda bread, oily fish, oats made with milk, sweet potato. I cut out items that were clearer to my wife and I to be carby (potatoes, pasta and rice). I then did a biggest loser amount of workouts, often with my heart rate at circa 145 bpm. This got me just under diabetic numbers, this was hard but easy. To explain I used to do a lot of sports so found working out quite easy (but exhausting) - this is not an efficient route to getting in remission, but did work for me; but I would question sustainability.
I finally found this site and just read for months, discussed concepts with my HCP wife. It was hard for her, as to hear the ideas were against what she had learnt (twice), imagine that. I was open, as I was cross referencing, but still could not get my head around fat.
The best move I made was moving to LCHF from low GI. I experienced instant further weight loss and a lower HbA1c and the euphoric feeling people talk about. I was eating 3 meals a day and feelings stuffed, so went down to 2 meals. I have tested several additions such as heavy weights using HiiT and walking further and slower. I began to understand that diet is most important aspect (in my opinion) on this journey, with exercise as the cherry on top.
LCHF is a fix in it's own right, but is a conduit to Keto and intermittent fasting. Yesterday I had to cancel breakfast at a hotel I was staying, as the day before I ate 2 meals and was still full. I am now OMAD adapted, which all started due to LCHF setting the scene for a lesser requirement to eat. I weigh 85.5 kg now which is my lightest for maybe 20 years, maybe longer, and my visceral fat has moved to 6.5% with total fat of between 11 and 13% depending on which of the 3 scales is used. I respect other protocols, but for someone wanting to resolve metabolic issues I would do the following (no snacks):
1. LCHF (3 meals), moderate exercise
2. LCHF, IF (2 meals), moderate to medium exercise
3. LCHF and Keto (1 to 2 meals), IF, moderate to medium exercise
4. Keto, IF (1 meal) , moderate to medium exercise