I imagine the veggie Indian diet would be high in carbs and quite a challenge ( better if you ease back on the rice and potatoes and go for pulses and non starchy veg) In fact similarly for the British post war diet- bread, porridge etc. I've often heard that Britain around the time of the war and just after was the healthiest it's ever been but the standard rations from what I can see were more or less starch- very little of anything else- I suppose this was more to do with home grown vegatables and generally more active lifestyles due to less cars/ labour saving devices etc
As for Italy- I've visited here twice- Southern Italy and once in the Lakes, The "healthiness" and suitability of the cuisine for people with diabetes varied from the sublime to the ridiculous. In one hotel ( not cheap) locally picked fruit for breakfast, an abundance of salads for evening meal plus game often on the menu and choice of decadent desert or generous portion of fresh fruit, but in other places pizz, pasta, sandwhiches with white bread, cakes, ice cream etc-need I say more? Also remember someone saying they couldn't but glucose tablets in Italy ( I took plenty with me) and had to use sugar lumps for hypos- and it seems hard to buy healthy snacks such as oatcakes or similar - whether this is just discouraged
