My father was thin all his life yet got Type II in his early 40s. When he was first diagnosed, conventional medicine told diabetics to meticulously count carbs. He did so, never needed insulin and remained slim until the American Diabetic Association began parroting the food pyramin hogwash and pushing 3 (or more) starch units PER MEAL! My father followed this horrific advice dished out by his doctor and the ADA -- began gaining weight especially around his stomach and eventually needed insulin shots to regulate his wildly fluctuating sugar. When I asked him why he tests his sugar several hours after a meal, he said because testing right after a meal would show sky high sugar levels. I asked him if he thought that a diet that creates sky high sugar levels right after meals sounds like a rational approach for a diabetic. I reminded him that his weight has progressively blossomed and he now needs insulin shots -- neither of which occurred when he kept carbs low after first being diagnosed 40 years ago. He said he asked his doc about low carb and the doc said that "nonsense" is old fashioned. He told me not to worry about his sugar levels because he can always just give himself an extra dose of insulin. My father has prostate cancer and I told him that he should be trying to reduce or get off the insulin if possible -- but I feel like I'm speaking to a wall. My father is an intelligent man (3 degrees from Harvard) yet has been completely brainwashed by the conventional medicine system and the ADA. I sent him to a special cancer system where NON food pyramid nutritionists offer dietary and supplement support as an adjunct to conventional medicine. The naturopath recommended a PALEO-LIKE regime and told my father that as a diabetic and cancer patient he is eating FAR TOO MANY GRAINS AND SUGARS. He advised my father eat more clean animal protien and replace all the starch/sugars with non-starchy veggies. I thought my father understood but he just visited me and insisted on having 3 heaping "starch units" with EACH MEAL all while complaining that his pants are getting too tight. I give up.