Buy a copy of "Dr. Neal Barnard's Plan For Reversing Diabetes" and proceed to CARB UP. You are supposed to crave carbs; they are the natural mainstay of your diet. It's eating high-fat foods like meat and dairy that causes Type II diabetes. Cut those out entirely, reduce the fat content of your diet to 2g per serving of EVERYTHING, and CARB UP.

I started this regime about 2 mos ago now and I've gone from metformin and gallons of insulin to metformin only, unless I have a virus or I'm about to start my period. I do not restrict anything in my diet except meat, eggs and dairy. I eat ALL I WANT of everything else.

I would give the exact opposite advice to Cliff. Everyone is different and what woks for one is not necessarily going to work for another. In my case - and I have proved it time and time again - if I eat carbs, doesn't matter what carbs (and yes I love rice and all the rest), my sugar levels rise way too high. As soon as I cut them out and eat some protein (meat, chicken, eggs, fish, cheese) with some low carb vegetables or salad the levels will return to a much lower and acceptable level.
As I say, we are all different but if you are looking at having to take insulin then might I suggest you at least try cutting out all the carbs for a while and see how your levels go. will you still want them? Yes, you will. But if your levels drop and you can stay off the insulin given time the cravings will diminish - and once things are stable you should be able to have some once a week, IF you feel that you can handle having them and then returning to the non-carb eating. there are many books and sites available that would help you. But I would suggest you test it to see how your levels do go when you don't eat carbs. You would need to do it for a few days though to get a proper result.
Then if they are still up try Cliff's way (or do it the other way round) and seehow things work out. I think you might be surprised by the result.

I'm in agreement with Hathani. Please,
test and test again! Try it; see what really works for you.
Hang in there!
MeadowLark

An apple will help with the cravings of carbs. I watch my carb intake and am doing well since I am now on Byetta. I too craved the carbs until I started on the Byetta. Talk to your doctor about it. I try to do no more than 120 carbs a day if I go over one day I cut back the next.

barnard's book explains why carbs are safe if you cut all the animal products and fat out of your diet.

Thank you all for the comments. I went today with very little carbs and my sugar levels went a little too low, to the point where I was cold sweating. I hate that feeling! Usually when that happens, I end up stuffing myslef.

I must get something to test myself with I think...:0(

My suggestion and what has worked for me... Is to change pasta and rice to wheat pasta/rice the same to be said of breat, if you use milk change to fat free, it takes getting used to, but you will get used to it. Try adding fresh veggies that helps with cravings of all kinds and with feeling hungry.

but I agree that what works for some won't work for others. Someone posted here once that any sort of chicken raised their blood sugar... Thanks God it doesn't mine.. LOL...

Best of luck, keep us posted.

Lowering your fats is MUCH m ore inmportant to blood-sugar control than lowering your carb intake.

I eat 2-3 carbs at every meal. I used to crave alot of carbs before I went on a weight reduction plan. Just knowing I get some helps. I just don't overdo it. But I don't really crave them anymore. I'm trying to learn to feed my body and not my head which is what I used to do. Things are going well now. It's been almost 7 weeks. I hope you get the answers that you are seeking. Good Luck!

My problem along with the cravings is that I don't count the carbs. I just eat, eat and eat. When I don't eat carbs, my sugar goes down. I need to learn how to discipline myslef and get used to the "boring food" I guess. Has anyone had any luck with a high fiber diet?

I'm a new member in this community and as I read these posts it sure is scary whats being put out there as valid information. I'm in agreement with hathani. My understanding of it all is since diabetes leads to other serious conditions like heart and kidney disease, its important to limit our fats and high sugar foods. As the diabetes clinic here promotes, half your plate should be dark colored veggies either raw or cooked.(dark colored ones carry more nutrients) then the other half of your plate should be divided in half for your protein and starch or carb. Carbs convert to sugar in the blood stream which is what we're trying to control, so they should be limited... I don't know who this Dr. Barnard is but if he's trying to promote a high carb diet, I'd be very wary of following it. For myself, what works for me is when my readings are high, I cut down on my carbs and balance these with protein, add more salad and low carb veggies. This unfailingly has lowered my blood sugars. My sister in law has given me a book called "Healing Diabetes with Natural medicine" it also promotes a lower carb diet...

Daisygurl, as to judging how much carbs you should eat, the diabetic clinic here teaches us that a carb serving should be the size equal to the palm of our hand and the protein should be the size of our fist. Then double this to make up our veggies. I generally will have salad AND cooked veggies. Convert any of your carbs to brown or whole wheat. This is a very loose and general measure but it has worked for me. I have also found that if I balance my carbs with my proteins this helps with my carb cravings.

I appreciate all of your comments, they have all been very helpful. I'm trying to cut down on the intake of carbs (especially rice since I LOVE steamed rice). It is sooo hard to stop eating after the first searving (which I've also cut down on how much I put on my plate). I'm trying to eat healthy snacks through out the day so that I don't get hungry and binge eat to fead the low sugar feeling. I now just need to start exercising. I have some ideas, but I just need to get motivated to do it! I bought a recumbant bike (on clearance!)........... but it's still sitting in the back of my SUV. I tend to procrastinate when I don't want to do something. Thanks again for all your comments! Take care.

A low carbs diet works for me. I have eaten rice for more than 50 years and I stopped (my stable food). Two things: I ate any rice and not only my bg shot up afterwards (post prandial spike), but also craving for more and got big hunger from time to time. High fibre diet was my next step: Brussel sprouts for breakfast, fruit and veggi at lunch, and before evening meal, I eat more fruits first, then veggi, then some fish or meat for the protein which I also get eating Tofu and drinking soy bean milk, fortified with ALA, fibre, calcium, and vitamins.
I also walk after each meal.
Wish you luck