My uncle is a type 2 diabetic, and decided to try low-carb (standard Atkins). Result? He got off Glyburide, Actos and Januvia. He still takes Metformin, but at a reduced dose from before.
Went from following the recommended 'diabetic diet' (fairly high-ish in carbs imo) to Atkins induction. Did induction for several months and transitioned to OWL. He's found that he can eat higher carb things here and there, without experiencing a negative effect with his blood sugar readings - meaning that more vegetables or a few berries here and there aren't doing him any harm at all.
He was on maximum diabetic medications (short of insulin) and his blood sugars were still getting out of hand. When his specialist doctor made noises about insulin, he decided to give low-carb a try. These days - his blood sugars look
normal, and he's kept this up for a couple of years now. Not only did he not have to go on insulin, he got rid of a bunch of medications entirely.
In conjunction with Atkins, he added vitamin D3, magnesium, B-12 as well as a standard multi-vitamin.
As for what he eats? Pretty simple: meat, eggs, fish, vegetables. A few berries here and there (not daily), a bit of apple here and there. There are a few extras here and there, but for the most part it's meat/fish/eggs/vegetables. Some nuts occasionally too.
In terms of eating out - he just follows Atkins, and he's not looking for a diabetic menu or anything in particular like that. Also - there is one thing that the old "diabetic diet" he used to be on was good for -
making him steer clear of desserts. To this day, he cannot be bothered with making low-carb desserts or anything like that. I think it's from years of not eating sweets - he's just not into desserts. This has turned out to be a good thing. He did tell me that upon trying 'diabetic approved' chocolates, that his blood sugar shot up, and he also made an effort to quit diet pop.
With regard to doctors - it was weird, because he asked his "diabetic specialist" (endo I think) if there was anything he could do, diet-wise, and she said no.
I suggested he talk to his regular GP, and she turned out to be just excellent. She tested his vitamin levels, agreed that he needed magnesium, B-12 and D3 and worked with him as he tapered down off all the medications. She is just fabulous, and really listened to him and encouraged him as he worked hard at turning his whole lifestyle around. I'm not sure she was entirely convinced at first, but he went in there with log books of everything he was eating and his four-times daily blood sugar tests and she was pretty impressed. Right from the get-go though, she was on-board with what he was trying to do. I think this helped a great deal. It's kind of scary to do this...turn everything around and be tinkering with lowering and reducing medications. His doctor was great about it all. His regular physician, and not the specialist. Like I said, it really helped him to have a good doctor who was willing to help him get this all sorted out.
It totally worked