dieting and diabetes - and buckwheat

if there are others out there working at losing weight while having type 2 diabetes i do have a suggestion - i use my rice cooker to cook up 2 cups of buckwheat (1 cup buckwheat and 1 cup water) - after its cooks add a dash of salt, bit of olive oil if you wish

i've replaced the vast majority of white (refined) carbs with whole grains (not whole grain bread but grains that are whole in that the kernel has not been broken) - whole grains break down slowly and REALLY help with sugar spikes

many diet experts recommend stopping eating a few hours prior to sleeping but those with diabetes can't safely to do this - so i eat a quarter - half-cup of buckwheat before i go to sleep - this helps keep my night blood sugar levels lower as the buckwheat breaks down slowly, preventing your liver from increasing sugar levels as it will do if you have nothing in your tummy

That's a great tip.

Buckwheat is also called kasha, and it's sold whole and in medium and fine granulations.  The whole kernals are chewy and have a nutty flavor.  The ground kind is cooked as a hot cereal.

If you like buckwheat, try Japanese soba noodles. Here is an easy dressing for 2 1/2 bundles. (They are packaged in bundles.) Don't cook over 3 minutes in boiling water, then dip in an ice water bath. They will seem stiff. That's okay. Put the following dressing on them and let them sit for 30 minutes. This makes a terrific cold salad -- great for an evening snack. (4 servings)

2 t. honey (you could probably replace this with Spenda to taste.) 2 t. sesame oil 5 t. soy sauce 2 t. rice vinegar

Add whatever you like to make a great salad: sesame seeds, golden raisins, chicken, pork, green onions, shredded carrots, orange sections, shrimp. Great for summer picnics instead of pasta salad. It always draws rave reviews.