It's important to add exercise to the program to bring blood sugar down too. Both diet and exercise improve sugar in pre diabetic and diabetic people, and those with metabolic syndrome too. I got my sugar down from a pre diabetic level to "normal" that way. It doesn't take that much, really.

Switch from white foods right away. No white bread, pasta; sugar, etc. Use *whole* grain bread, like a 12 grain - it's really delicious and so much better for you too. Use whole wheat pasta; you'll get used to the slightly different taste in no time. It takes about 5 more minutes to cook it too, so, take that into account. Get off of white sugar, period. There's nothing good for you in it at all. If you think it tastes good, use Splenda. You can even use it for cooking and canning. I do.

Start eating more fruits and veggies. I know it's a bit difficult if you're not used to it, but, hey, it's summertime, and now's the best time to get all those fresh ones at the market! Grill them! I made some delicious grilled summer squash, zucchinni, and asparagus with olive oil and crushed garlic. OMG!!! Heaven on earth! LOL! Roll it in some of that flax bread with a piece of low fat cheese, and what a lunch you've got!

Use breakfast to have as much fruit as you want. Add a piece of whole grain toast, no butter, for a healthy start to the day.

Make 1/2 of your dinner plate veggies. 1/4 of the plate should be a starch - rice; baked potato (without the butter and sour cream!) Try a sweet potato; it's great baked! And 1/4 lean protein. Add a salad too.

For snacks, have fruit, yogart, a few nuts, dried fruit, (caution, they have more sugar than whole fruit due to the processing), or carrot sticks, celery sticks. Most of this stuff, you can have on the go if you're not at home.

And as for exercising, just walk. Each evening, take a walk after dinner. Or early in the morning when you get up, after your morning coffee, take a 20 minute walk. Start slow if you need, and build up. Then, begin to add a bit a weight with the arm bands; leg bands. Weight training revs up the metabolism; helps you loose weight faster.

We can do this. No one is "doomed" to type 2 diabetes! Let's work together and stay healthy! There's no better time than now, the summer, to get working on the rest of our lives!

Peace!