How can I turn diabetes management into a practical meal plan and tracking?

[Brandon31]

I was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and while my doctor gave me general guidelines, I'm struggling to translate them into a practical daily routine for diabetes management, especially around meal planning and understanding how different foods affect my blood sugar. I've started checking my levels before and after meals, but the results are confusing and sometimes discouraging, making it hard to see what's working. For others living with this, what tools or strategies helped you most in the beginning to create a sustainable eating plan, incorporate effective exercise, and consistently track your progress without feeling overwhelmed? I'm particularly interested in learning how to balance carbohydrates and find satisfying alternatives to the staples I used to rely on.