bjd:
So a good mate has today been diagnosed with the above been told to sraert to watch his diet to begin with but i have a question on his behalf i think he said his blood sugars where reading around 18 .2 is that bad ? and if he starts to eat better how log would it take for him to see a difference i e a lower level thxs
OK. Its easier als you think 
Dont drink Alcohol or any which has Sugar or Sweetener in it.
Dont eat
any Kind of fruit with Fruit-Sugar in it (If the Body cant lock Sugar into the Cells he also cant Vitamin C. its the same Key)
any Kind of Wheat Flour in it (Bread,Roll,Pasta,ect,ect)
any Kind of white Reis
You can drink
Water
Tea without Sugar
Milk
You can eat (not much 
,)
Meat
Fish
most Vegetables,but no Potato
Porridge
Barley
You musst do exercise.
I do walking. Normally between January and March in Nevada/California.
Otherwise walking the Hadrians Wall,Forest of Dean,next Week 3 day in Tyrol. Bough me a Camera to have a Hobby which gets me active.
OK,check then after 3 Weeks. Every Pharmacy does free Diabetes checks.