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"Every single Type II diabetic I know has overaten their way into developing it. Many could control their diabetes through execise and proper nutrition and choose not to do so (they'd rather not change their behavior and rely on drugs). I don't know anyone who's overweight and eats right and exercises."

I am Type II. When diagnosed 2 years ago, I weighed 185. Ideal for my height. I now weigh 225. I eat less carbs and sugar than I did before I was diagnosed. Due to arthritis I can exercise very little. Same as when I was diagnosed. My chemistry changed sometime in the last 2 years. I packed on 40 lbs for no apparent reason. I am also on Synthroid for thyroid problems.

I am 54 and have been on the thin side all of my life. Not any more. Some people are heavy due to their chemistry or makeup. I know now, this is true and not a excuse.

"I packed on 40 lbs for no apparent reason. I am also on Synthroid for thyroid problems."

Well, there's your reason right there. I, too, gained about 50# for "no apparent reason" until my doctors FINALLY realized that my thyroid had stopped working (it took me sleeping 23hr/day, gaining about 1#/day despite no appetite, and a huge goiter for them to catch on to the problem).Unfortunately, going on thyroid medicine does not automatically shed those pounds--they're real weight just as if you'd overeaten. I finally, over the course of a few years, had shed about 40 of those 50# until my wt started creeping back up and my energy level sank to new lows. Guess what? It was the generic thyroid hormone that the docs had put me on to save money wasn't doing the trick. Problem is that thyroid is one of the few drugs where brand name and generic are not equivalent. Auggie, you should check to make sure you're really on Synthroid and not some generic version.

So, now i'm back to looking at losing another 20#. sigh...also, after years of swearing by high complex carbs, i tried a variation of the Atkins diet. NOT easy at all for me because I'm a vegetarian. So, I can't load up on steak or bacon or any of the usual things people eat on a low carb diet. And yes, i was starving for most of the 3 months i was on it and obsessed about food. and yes, I also craved carbs. I lost about 8#--not much by most folks' standards here--and it was pure agony. I eat a lot of vegetables and get my protein from soy-based foods. Soy does NOT satiate you! Oh, and I was exercising about 1.5hrs/day and barely making it because i was so tired all the time. I wish someone in the know would publish a really good version of a low carb for vegetarians.