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I don’t eat much for carbs to begin with.

I'm not sure what you are eating carb wise, however a very low carbohydrate (VLC) is in to 20 to 35 net carb range. This is pretty much the induction phase for Atkins. Most of the research on metabolic syndrome or syndrome X shows very good results with VLC and insulin resistance. Secondly, VLC diets reduce rapidly triglyceride levels independent of weight loss. The ratio of triglyceride levels divided by HDL levels is the strongest predictor for cardiac arterial health. A ratio under two is your target.

One other issue I have discovered is the role of artificial sweeteners. The FDA approval for the sweeteners was based on Type I diabetes. I do not like the terms type I and type II. In type I there is a lack of insulin, hence artificial sweeteners do not effect insulin production. Type II is insulin resistance where there is adequate production but resistance to the added insulin at the cellular level. Artificial sweeteners have not been studied for their effect on a healthy population or Type II diabetes. My experience is artificial sweeteners complicate type II by signaling the need for more insulin from the body. This complicates VLC diets. JMHO & YMMV. I avoid artificial sweeteners and particularly aspartame.