Breastfeeding & Diabetes

World Breastfeeding Week  is a global campaign to raise awareness and galvanize action on themes related to breastfeeding is celebrated August 1st to August 7th every year.

                                                      World Breastfeeding Week - August 1st to August 7th every year.


                                                          



Breastfeeding offers a wealth of benefits both for mothers and their babies. Even if you have diabetes, you can and should plan to breastfeed for at least six months or longer.

Breastfeeding can lower a mother’s risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, osteoporosis and arthritis. It may also help you lose the weight you put on during pregnancy and recover from childbirth more quickly.

Breastfed babies have lower risk of developing type 1 diabetes and becoming overweight or obese later in life, which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. They’re also less likely to have asthma, eczema, respiratory disease, ear infections and other serious health problems.

Three common forms of diabetes are: type 1, an autoimmune condition that typically develops in youth; type 2, a condition that is traditionally diagnosed in adults but that also affects younger individuals; and Gestational diabetes, which develops during pregnancy. About half of women who develop gestational diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

Gestational Diabetes

During late pregnancy, some women develop blood glucose (blood sugar) levels that are too high (hyperglycemia) even though they didn’t have diabetes before getting pregnant. If you have this condition, called gestational diabetes, you’re at greater risk for type 2 diabetes later in life. But the good news is that breastfeeding can reduce your risk because it helps your body process glucose and insulin better.

·         Diabetes can impact breastfeeding in a variety of ways, For example, it can lengthen the time before some mothers establish milk production. Breastfeeding can also change maternal blood sugar patterns throughout the day.

·         Mothers who require medical therapy for diabetes may need less medication during breastfeeding to prevent dips in blood sugar.

·         Mothers with diabetes should also continue to monitor blood sugar and discuss with their health care team how to adjust their medical treatment for diabetes during the postpartum period.

·          Medications typically used to treat diabetes, such as insulin and metformin, are not harmful to breastfed babies and may be necessary for mothers to maintain proper glucose control.

·         Similarly, sticking to a healthy diet can help stabilize blood sugar; diets typically recommended for pregnancy are also good for diabetic mothers.

 

Author: Dr.Ravikannan.,MBBS., F.DRC., Consultant Diabetologist, Shadow Clinics & Diagnostic