Breastfeeding Tips & Benefits: Breastfeeding May Lower The Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Breastfeeding has always been known to babies, but a new study now suggests that such could be beneficial for mothers as well.

An article on WebMD revealed that moms who breastfeed will ultimately benefit as well by lowering their risk on type 2 diabetes.

The report claimed that breast-feeding for more than two months returned a 50% reduction on potentially developing diabetes, particularly for mothers who have a history of gestational diabetes. Further to the claim, women who breast-fed had lowered the odds of developing type 2 diabetes.

"Both the level and duration of breastfeeding may offer unique benefits to women during the post-delivery period for protection against development of type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes pregnancy," said author Erica Gunderson, who serves as a senior research scientist for Kaiser Permanente Northern California.

The "Study of Women, Infant Feeding and Type 2 Diabetes after GDM Pregnancy," otherwise known as the SWIFT Study, is reportedly the first to measure breastfeeding on a monthly basis. Aside from that, it is also the first to evaluate social, behavioral and prenatal risk factors tied up with the development of type 2 diabetes.

How does breastfeeding to it?

According to Gunderson, lactation allows the insulin-producing cells in mothers some rest, since it would mean that they don’t have to make so much insulin for them to lower their blood glucose. Through breastfeeding, glucose and fat in the blood are used up, transferring them to breast tissue which in turn is responsible for milk production.

However, it should be noted that while breastfeeding has its share of benefits, such is not purposely tackling the issue of weight-loss.

"There's a lot of variability in how women respond to pregnancy and lactation and in terms of what their body does," added Gunderson in the report.

However, another doctor points out that breastfeeding is not necessarily something that women with complications may likely consider.

In this case, women who do have issues with gestational diabetes could be wary of such. This was pointed out by Dr. Aaron Coughley, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine in Portland via WebMD.

"Women with higher rates of pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes mellitus, are less likely to breast-feed.

In essence, breastfeeding is seen as only a possible solution to address mothers who may be suffering from type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Sheryl Ross, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center, in Santa Monica, California pointed out as well that lifestyle behaviors still have a bearing too like increased physical activity that could very well reduce the risk of diabetes.