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Women with gestational diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, but breastfeeding can help you reduce this risk, according to the Times of India.
Women with diabetes are encouraged to breastfeed their babies as it may help lower blood sugar levels.
Benefits of breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the best way to take care of the baby and create a bond between the mother and the baby. Breastfeeding reduces the chances of various health diseases in women including osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, weight loss after pregnancy, breast cancer, uterine cancer and ovarian cancer.
Not just the physical benefits, breastfeeding also plays an important role in managing postpartum anxiety. Breastfeeding releases happy hormones called oxytocin, which improves the mother’s mood and reduces the risk of postpartum depression in new mothers.
How can breastfeeding affect diabetes management?
Breastfeeding is a real exercise for new mothers, and alongside it, reduced stress can also improve blood sugar control and a woman’s quality of life after childbirth.
When the baby first begins to breastfeed, some women with diabetes may experience low blood sugar, so it is best to keep glucose nearby while the baby is breast-feeding.
Breastfeeding with diabetes can be challenging, as women can develop mastitis, a condition called mastitis.
These women should also monitor their blood sugar levels, especially since increased blood sugar can affect the quality of the milk.
Breastfeeding
Effects of breastfeeding on newborns
For newborns, breastfeeding provides protection against undernutrition and overnutrition during early childhood, and can also reduce the risks of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life.
How can breastfeeding lower blood sugar levels?
Breastfeeding helps lower blood sugar levels by using blood glucose to produce breast milk, and lowers blood sugar levels by burning extra calories, which increases insulin sensitivity.
Ways to facilitate the breastfeeding experience for women with diabetes:
Eat a light meal before or during breastfeeding
Monitor blood sugar levels at least once a day
Keep an emergency snack, such as a box of cookies or fruit, nearby while breastfeeding the baby
Avoid stress and check for infections in the breasts
– Stay hydrated
