[gchappel]

It sounds like you are talking about a major lifestyle change here- on which over the course of a year you will have spent hundreds of hours. Please do not go into this without a plan. Diet will be vital, especially with diabetes. Proper training will also be vital- or you will get all the classic signs of overtraining and quit.
If you don't know what you are doing hire a trainer- at least for a short period of time to get you started. Ask around, find a good one. They can direct you on diet- or better yet talk to a nutritionist. If you don't want to do that, at least go to the library and read- there are dozens of good books with plans, ideas and explanations. Spend the first week lifting books instead of weight, will pay off in the end. If you go into this randomly, you will not get where you want to go, at least not with efficient use of your time.
Been there, done that. Got hurt. Doing it again.
I should write a book on how weaklings like myself should train- call it pumping aluminum.
Gary