As I say, it's all quantity. The best bread is a decent black german-style pumpernickel as the GI is so low thanks to the process it goes through, sourdough is almost as low a GI as whole, it is safe provided you're not shoving a loaf down your throat a day. The other thing is that over here we tend not to go for that mass produced muck in plastic bags, it's all "fresh" breads in the supermarkets and there's plenty bakeries around, the selection available here is, for example, much better than in the UK. The quality of the bread makes a difference as well, especially regarding sugars and salts.
Same with fruit, good for you with all the fiber and vitamins, just don't shovel a pound of grapes down your throat in one sitting.
It's the key thing, everything in moderation. Many, if not most, people with T2 have one thing in common, they are too short for their weight. I got lucky and got caught relatively early thanks to my foot going up like a balloon and a hole appearing thanks to my own stupidity landing me in hospital for 9 days, and the infection, etc, just tripped my glucose over the line. Even then, the cholesterol, triglycerides and so on were all saying "metabolic syndrome" for some time before that, but we had no reason for a blood test to get these warning signs, had I not had the big warning things would have ended differently.
So the weight has to drop (only another 4lbs to go and I am no longer classed as "overweight" by the inaccurate BMI scale), the cholesterol levels have to change, everything has to be brought into stability and that means a much better diet. My glucose meter tells me how stable my blood sugar is, and that's well under control, blood tests have confirmed that, and the cholesterols have to be brought into order. Thankfully, despite the abuse this body has had over the years, my heart is as strong as a bull on steroids so that's a plus. But things as a whole have to change, and since the only exercise I can do is slow walking that change can only be achieved through changing what I put into me, and so far it is definitely working. Biggest thing I have to worry about is weed and/or cocodamol dropping my blood sugar too far towards hypo.
You don't have to restrict yourself too far in diet when you have Type 2. It's all about quantities. Some things, like tea, you can have unlimited amounts. Other things, like bread/pasta/rice/spuds you have to not have too much. Other things, like fruit and beetroot, you have to be careful over the quantity depending on what they are (pomegranate is much better than grapes, as an example). And, of course, anything that is just sugar, or has added sugar, is a no-no.
Simple changes, quantity is everything, even little things like using smaller plates to trick your mind into thinking you have a big plateful of food helps on the losing weight side (it does actually work, because we are all used to judging whether there is enough food based upon the empty space on the plate, perception is everything). You have to change everything, not just one thing, but you don't have to restrict yourself too far, you can still enjoy many of the things you did before, just be careful with the quantities.
