Personalized Dietary Management in Type 2 Diabetes

Inclusion Criteria: * must be an adult 21-80 years of age * must be diagnosed with early-stage T2D defined as HbA1c\<8% and managed for the past 3 months on a diabetes regimen that included lifestyle plus metformin. * those who are willing and able to use a smart phone to self monitor their diet and to attend WebEx sessions Exclusion Criteria: * those who have conditions or treatments likely to alter the underlying function of the microbiome, an insulin response that is driven by factors other than glycemic response to food, conditions/treatments that make it difficult to isolate the true nature of the relationship between randomization assignment and weight loss, characteristics or preferences that would preclude meaningful participation in the study * those who are unable or unwilling to adhere to an intervention that requires dietary self-monitoring * those who have been prescribed: (1) antibiotics or antifungals in the past 3 months, (2) diabetic medications other than metformin, (3) weight loss medications, (4) chronic use of steroids or immunosuppressants, (5) atypical antipsychotics, and (6) chemotherapy. * those who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant during the study period, or become pregnant during the study * those who have a chronic disease that affects energy/glucose metabolism (e.g., Cushing's syndrome, acromegaly, hyperthyroidism) * those who require special dietary management (end-stage kidney disease, cirrhosis, HIV) * those who are unable or unwill…