Diana,
Personally I would not trust any medical professional who tells me to only test once or twice per day.
A few months ago I quit seeing my local family doctor because she said I only need to test once per day in the morning to get my fasting BG's.
BUT I've learned that high fasting BG's are one of the last symptoms to appear in diabetes. Basically; by the time you have high FBG's it's too late !
She also said that if I ever did test after a meal. I MUST test at only 2 hours after eating and never ever test at any other time.
And as you've also noticed; 2 hours after eating are not necessarily accurate indicators for after meals BG spikes.
I've also learned that normal A1C's are between 4.5 and 6.0.
NOT the under 7.0
7.0 (and 6.5) is old school. Complications have been show to still occur at those levels.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetics who take insulin are instructed to use those "old school" levels to have safer tolerances for any mistakes in insulin dosages or carb counting.
Your description of diabetes sounds very similar to my own.
When diagnosed I weighed 300 lbs, ate like crap, and got very very little exercise.
The endo who diagnosed me said I am I prime candidate for getting off medication IF I lose weight, improve my diet, and get regular exercise.
He talked about Mike Huckabee as being a famous example.
The best personal advice I can give you is to take your medication as instructed; because your A1C is high.
Educate yourself and change you diet and exercise to help get off the meds.
I can tell you that I found a tremendous amount of help in the books I've read.
See:
http://www.diabetesforum.com/diabetes-diet-nutrition/2458-books-video-have-helped-me-greatly.html
In the past year I lost 120 lbs, have improved my diet greatly, and get at least 30 mins of exercise per day (walking at 3.5mph).
Because of this I have reduced my medication tremendously and have normal BGs.
Take a peak at my signature to see how my A1C has improved.
--ET