GARLIC!! Welcome to the forums and buy the jarred, minced garlic at the store. That will help veggies taste better than just about anything, IMHO. And get an Italian seasoning blend.
Yeah, the potatoes and rice probably weren't great, but eating lean pork once in a while is certainly not going to kill you.
I eat a low-er carb diet. Not ultra low. I shoot for about 100 carbs per day, give or take. Some folks on here have had success with eating only 30 or so grams of carbs per day, but I personally can't live like that.
You really do have to change how you deal with menu planning. More green veggies, much, much less starch. South Beach is a good meal plan for diabetics. Start reading labels compulsively. For things that don't have labels, google the food and "nutritional information" with it and voila! You'll have a dozen sites pop up that have this information. Also look online for low glycemic index foods. There is a lot of information about this, as well.
Low-carb alternatives are available for many favorite foods. The Hood company makes Calorie Countdown milk that is low carb and the Dreamfields company does a low-carb pasta that tastes good and doesn't spike your blood sugar.
As with the others, I echo the advice to get a meter and start testing yourself. That way, you'll have a good handle on where you are and where you're headed.
I totally understand about the insurance thing. However, with diet and exercise, you may be able to hang on long enough to get that going before you have to go on medication. Walking just 15-20 minutes can have a BIG effect on your blood glucose (BG) levels.
It is incredibly overwhelming at first. I was very nearly suicidal when I found out. If I'd been on here right after my diagnosis (DX), people would have been sending me advice to see a counselor -- YESTERDAY! Try to relax if you can, and do try to get a good night's sleep each night. That helps, too.
These folks here are great and they know their stuff. They won't steer you wrong. Take care of yourself and let us know how you're getting along. We really do care!
