It’s all a matter first of getting back to the best numbers ( for you) that are attainable , so like baseline for you , (and try to stay there for a bit) let your meter be your guide with your pre and post prandial readings with foods you know don’t raise you up sharply . Then you work back in foods that may or may not raise you so much,... and test . Remember it took years of hurting our body’s with wrong choices to get us to this point so it takes time to get back to YOUR best baseline numbers. Won’t happen overnight . Don’t be discouraged!!!
I hear you with the willpower stuff. Believe me I’m not perfect . Although my A1c is good I’ve seen my post prandial numbers spike this past year due to bad choices coupled with less exercise ( walking fast) due to ankle , back and knee injuries. When my pre and post were really good , maintaining it was easier with exercise especially if I was eating more or somewhat less healthy carbs. It’s a whole system working together and not just one magic bullet . There were and are times I can eat let’s say , a small piece of cheesecake, ( bad I know ) but because I was exorcising regularity I could do that with only a moderate rise in BG. But I’d walk a mile after eating it . If I did that now it wouldn’t be as pretty of a picture numbers wise . But I know this and once I get back to better pre and post prandial along with my 3-5 miles walked per day I can eat bigger and or more meals or have a cheat now and again because my metabolism will be working better( faster) . The exercise you do today continues to burn sugar into the next day , it’s cyclical and somewhat cumulative. Start slow with MD’s help and keep at it and if you take a step or 200 back ?, just learn , let it go and continue . You can’t change the past but can control ( to degrees) your future. .
Good luck , you GOT it ??. Feel free to message me if you have any questions or just need a kick in the ass ??. I’ll do my best to answer if I can ??
Edit:
@GetAgrippa brought up a good point that I usually go by ...... some good fats, proteins, and HEALTHY carbs in every meal ! And I’ve found that eating ( if possible) 6 or more smaller meals a day helps ME. With at least 3 of those containing those .