| Good luck on you blood glucose control, your weight loss, and your improved nutrition. I hope you will let your research team know that you have made these huge changes even if they do not specifically ask.
Have you figured out how many calories might be "ideal" for you? Is that how many calories you are taking in? I ask because it sounds like you might be on a very, very low level of calories and that long term you might not be able to continue that way. I imagine near-fasting is the better choice in some circumstances, but not always.
I'm doubting that oral insulin will be life changing for many people. In my own case, for example, I don't want to take any insulin, just no, no matter how convenient, easy, and cheap it may be. More insulin might help force my blood glucose down, but I already (as a type 2) seem to have very high levels of insulin. I don't want to add to that, not understanding what such increased levels of insulin may be doing to me. In my case, I prefer to address the insulin resistance---which you, too, are doing through weight loss, exercise, and metformin.
If your beloved does the grocery shopping and you eat/drink whatever it is she brings home, I hope you will continue to educate her about your needs. A lot of people do have trouble understanding.
A lot of diabetic studies get done in my city, but I have never looked into participating in one. Sometimes I do look over what studies are looking for participants. Oh, I did do one that was merely a questionnaire and study of my medical records, but no treatment type studies.  | 
