How Diabetes and Insulin Affects Breastfeeding?- Dr David Chandy
Breastfeeding is a golden opportunity for a mother to bond with her baby. Milk is considered liquid gold. The infant should be breastfed in all cases as long as it is forbidden.
Points to note:
1. Are your meds safe for your baby?
In most cases, a medication that was fine to use during pregnancy may be fine to continue while breastfeeding. But it is always wise to consult a doctor. Metformin is usually fine, and insulin should be OK. If you have type 1, you should definitely continue taking insulin, even if you may find that you need less while breastfeeding than you did before pregnancy
2. Blood sugar control
Poorly controlled blood sugar levels can affect milk production and quality, so it is important for diabetic mothers to manage their condition carefully while breastfeeding
3. Low blood sugar
It takes a lot of energy to make milk, and breast milk contains lactose, a type of sugar. When you breastfeed your baby, that sugar leaves your body and your blood sugar level drops by about 25%, and your blood sugar can drop to very low levels (hypoglycaemia).
Checking your blood sugar regularly and planning ahead can go a long way. And it’s generally a good idea to eat a bit before nursing and keep something like fruit juice close by while nursing, in case you start to develop hypoglycaemia. Also drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
4. Effect of breastfeeding
Some studies suggest that women with diabetes may have a delayed start of breastfeeding or reduced milk production compared to women without diabetes
5. Impact on babies’ health
Babies of diabetic mothers may have some health issues such as hypoglycaemia, so it is important for mothers to monitor their baby’s health carefully while breastfeeding.
6. Benefits
For your young child, it is well known that breastfed babies (whether mom has diabetes or not) have fewer health problems, such as respiratory and ear infections, digestive problems, asthma and may even be less likely to develop type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Overall, proper diabetes management, staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet, and monitoring maternal and infant health are important for successful breastfeeding outcomes Consultation with health professionals, including lactation consultants and endocrinologists, can provide guidance and tailored support for breastfeeding diabetic mothers.
A mother with diabetes can also continue to breastfeed her baby. Local awareness of this is critical.
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