Hi msarkie,
I wish you lots of luck on your new diet. If Diabetes is in your family you should be watchful of what you eat. Like you said, you don't need another disease, if it is preventable.

Did you fast 12 hours before the last blood work? I am sure you did if your lipids were tested.

I stopped salt in my store bought foods, and make most my own bread and other foods, not using any salt, or other things I am allergic to, in the recipes.

Now if I take even one potato chip with salt on it, I feel like I have sand between my teeth and it burns my tongue. Like a salt factory.

You will get used to missing the foods you once enjoyed. Good luck.