I suggest that you ask your health care provider to prescribe a continuous glucose monitor - at least for a few months until you have a chance to learn about how your body reacts to changes in diet and exercise. A CGM system consists of a patch you wear for about 10 to 14 days at a time, and your blood sugar levels are continuously relayed to an app on your smartphone or a separate device. They usually require just one finger stick to calibrate when you attach a new patch. Additional finger sticks may be required if you get very high or very low readings to make sure the device is giving accurate information. I believe that these devices should be given to everyone newly diagnosed with Type II diabetes so that you can get instant feedback on what is happening in your body. They are a bit more expensive than the standard device with finger sticks, and they are not covered by many insurance plans. However, they give you much better information at a time when you have so much to digest - both physically and mentally. It really helps to know that the piece of white bread with butter causes your blood sugar to spike, but the whole wheat crackers with cheese does not, or that you need to eat something before going for a long walk so that your blood sugar doesn't drop too low. And they are so much less painful than several finger sticks a day!