Forgive me if you know already, but Dr. Bernstein's book is the usual source for this. There's also another book focused on diet, which is maybe more appropriate for your or your friend's concerns.

I have a friend who is diabetic and on meds to control his blood sugar. He went almost zero carb with absolutely no wheat products but did not monitor his fasting morning glucose closely and dang near ended up in the hospital passed out from low blood sugar....because he didn't dial back his meds. His pre-paleo fasting blood glucose was around 250 to 300. He is now med free and zero carb with a morning average fasting blood glucose 100-105. This after having two cardiac events which resulted in stints. His cardiologist never gave him any nutritional advice...just here is a perscription for metformin. Now his cardiologist is just skeptical of his progress and wants him to still take his metformin...just in case his blood glucose goes back up...of course it will not. We still have a long way to go with the lamestream medical community.

I was on low dosages of Metformin, having just been diagnosed with Type II diabetes, when I went Paleo. I'd had a fasting BG test of 12.6 MMOL/l at my diagnosis. A couple months of Paleo basically halved that and I am now off the Metformin with my doctor's blessing.

I just bought Cordain's The Paleo Diet and went for it.

OK, when you talk about 'insulin meds' I am assuming you are not taking insulin itself, just some kind of meds to assist your still functioning pancreas. I am also assuming you have a glucometer and can test your own bgs. If so, this helps as you can see how you are progressing and make sure your bg numbers aren't getting too low. As a type 2, your eventual goal will be to keep carb intake low to minimize blood glucose spikes and allow your pancreas some relief. SOme people find they can eventually get off meds this way, but a lot depends on how much damage has already been done. Low carb is not a miracle cure and can't fix everyone. It can help a lot of people though.

There are two ways to go paleo. One is to jump in and do it all at once from day one. The other is to slowly transition. The advantages of jumping in is you can get the health benefits faster and for those who have temporary cravings for their old types of foods, they can get past those faster. The downside is that some people's bodies take a while to transition and if they do it quickly, they will sometimes experience a temporary state of overall tiredness nicknamed 'the lowcarb flu' until their body adjusts.

Another method, is to cut out things one at a time. My advice would be to cut out processed food and wheat first. Transition to whole foods and maybe a bit of whole fruit and cooked potatoes. Adapt to that and see your blood sugars are doing. And then slowly downgrade the amount of carb you are eating. Watch your blood sugars as you go. Some find they need to stay away from fruit and tubers in order to keep either their weight or their blood sugars in a good range. Others find they can have a bit more of those and still be fine. You will have to learn what is best for you. Obviously, this little synopsis isn't going to cover everything, but at least you can get the gist of it.

Insulin and Sulphonureas are the only 2 meds that you have to worry about going too low. A type 2 or Type 1 needs to step it down slowly since they are on insulin. They will feel shaky even at a high blood sugar as they drop if that is not their usual bottom BS. For example; if they normally hit between 130 and 200, going to 110 (which is high for a fasting) will feel too low. Step it down in chunks weekly till you get to normal for a healthy young adult...ie. 83 fasting to 120 after meals. High fat, moderate protein and low carb is the diet for metabolic syndrome or for anybody. Check your BS before each meal, then 1-2 hours after and then 5-6 hours after becuase of gluconeogenisis. As you step the carbs down, step the meds down. Read Doc Bernstein's "The Law of Small Numbers". The smaller the number the smaller the mistake. The bigger the number the bigger the mistake. The basal will also have to be monitored as it will need to be reduced as well. Carry glucose tabs (4 grams each) just in case you need to come up fast. Soon enough, any type 2 will enjoy health as they have not seen it since before their BS increased and leptin/insulin resistance started. Then it will be dropping the insulin meds as well. Low carb is for life as high carb is for death.

Woly, I'd concur with all the excellent answers above! Please let your friend know that monitoring frequently with their glucometer is imperative to catch and prevent hypoglycemia. Checking 1 hour after meals (goal 100-140) is as important as pre-meal (goal 80-100).

Whether keeping carb % the same (for instance 20% or 40% of diet), the insulin sensitivity dramatically improves on Paleo because the gut dysbiosis from gluten/lectin/phytates improves and suddenly inflammation, bloating and slowed metabolism will be reversed. Exercise will change insulin requirements greatly too.

This means significantly less insulin required. They need to work closely with their physician so the insulin doses can be cranked back.

Hypoglycemia is glucoses < 70s but I think < 90s is getting pretty close. Running with slightly higher glucoses during transitions is MUCH MORE PRUDENT than any lows.

A car accident while driving with hypoglycemia may result in a 'DUI' believe it or not and potential consequences (license revoked) so avoiding hypoglycemia besides inducing comas can't be overstated.