Try to impress upon the doctor just how serious you are about changing your eating and activity to improve your health with this diabetes. He may be reluctant to give your strict instructions because many of his patients will not go as far as some of us, and he thinks his patients won't follow instructions with eating. Some doctors aim for an easier program because they don't want to scare you. Obesity can be deadly but most of my friends think it is a joke, and they laugh about it. Let him know you believe you can do the job. Dorisena