I have pretty good idea of type 2 from family, dad, brother. Its not a good thing and not to be taken lightly.
Im a tiny bit younger then the OP and I have avoided it, so far. THE OP A1C isnt great but if I am right, he can knock it down in a week or two, so three months later it will be a 5.
This is what I have noticed about type 2 people. Please do not take anything personal, I have watched it slowly deteriorate family members, its just terrible, medications, diets is all just, sadly BS.
If anyone truly wants to control/avoid, the cold truth is, you need to weigh what you are supposed to weight according to BMI charts. YOU DO NOT NEED A DIET, you need to eat what a human is supposed to eat to stay healthy and the lower weight will follow.
Its really that simple. The vast majority of type 2 patient's are overweight, and no one can fix that but you. Its is known that the condition makes one feel hungry all the time but the only way to beat it is not eat.
Its really simple, one or two shredded wheat for breakfast, no lunch, and for dinner, red meat 6oz or less portion once a week, chicken and fish the rest of the week, fish at least 2 times. NO fried food, no excuses, a piece of meat, some broccoli and one kind of starch for dinner and that is IT.
No snacks at night except fruit maybe a couple animal crackers. If one can do this, you WILL be within your BMI within weeks. Once you are, you can have ONE night of your choosing of anything goes is what I do when I go out to eat and what that means is I dont feel the need to worry about what I have that one night, interestingly even though that is my one night, I dont overeat as you will learn to HATE that stuffed feeling.
Im not a doctor, the above is what I do and so far, god willing, I have avoided this dreaded disease, I have seen what it does and its scary, the thing is, since it is a slow progression unlike a cancer, I think people tend to not take is as serious as they should.
Its good the OP really is concerned, hope this helps, good luck.