Hi Sherrin. Your friends is right. Things should be different, but your experience, sadly, is not altogether uncommon.
At my own diagnosis, my GP told me not to ask any questions as he had a lot to get through in 10 minutes. I still reckon, almost 10 years on, that he was lucky to live.
My very best advice to you would be to own your diagnosis (you don't need to love it to own it), and educate yourself into what you need to do. First purchase, again, in my opinion, would be a blood testing kit. That way you can begin to understand what's happening to your body day to day, and often meal by meal.
T2 isn't necessarily a slippery slope. I was diagnosed almost 10 years ago, but have been in remission for over 9, living a great life, without diabetes medication or complications. Some reckon they are much healthier, knowing they have T2 and being able to take steps to live healthily.
That you are concerned and questioning suggests to me , you will be fine.