My doctor just told me that I am officially pre-diabetic. He thinks that my metabolism has slowed down in the past year. I need to lose about 80 pounds. Exercise will not be a problem, my issue is diet control. I have already cut down my soda consumption to maybe one "zero sugar" a day about a year ago (at one point when I was younger, I was downing 6 or more "regular" sodas daily). To those of you who have been in this situation, what should I avoid eating, and what should I start eating to help me lose weight, and more importantly not go down the diabetes rabbit hole?

Thanks.