You seem to be doing well with gradual weight loss so far, channelluv. Keep it up.

I have no idea what the South Beach diet really is since I've never looked at the bk. I only have 1 "diet" book and I don't really read it anymore because I bought it because parts of the Okinawan diet (based on eating and living style of traditional Okinawans in Japan who have a record of longevity and health) mirror what I used to eat more often as a kid. Book confirmed certain things for me....I should rely more on veggies, soups, low fat, of what I used to eat as a kid/teen.

Like you I did get a near diabetes 2 borderline reading which panicked me. Got 2nd doctor's opinion which was my sister who is a physician. She recommended looking at these books: http://www.glycemicindex.com/
Database has some values for foods. It is this organization that began the whole trend several years ago on low glycemic index diet.

I read it more not memorize everything or follow diet plans, but to eliminate or reduce my consumption of white rice, heavy pastas, heavy breads,...

Also improve timing of when I eat my meals. So the carb part of my diet has changed alot in past 2 yrs. By the way, the same sister followed some of these rules herself. She lost weight..but had to return to it for gestational diabetes 2 control when she was pregnant.