Breastfeeding May Help Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk In Women

New studies claim that breastfeeding may decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by half. Researchers report that the exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding contributed to the risk factor with lactation affecting insulin sensitivity and metabolism as the probable cause.

Published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, the study followed more than 900 women with gestational diabetes during pregnancy and after giving birth for two years, according to Albany Daily Star. The study showed that 11.8 percent of the women developed type 2 diabetes with around 250,000 women diagnosed with the condition every year.

The study concluded that mothers who breastfed exclusively yielded the lowest risk of developing diabetes by half compared to those who had a mixture of formula breastfeeding or used formula-feeding alone. How long women breastfed also affected their chance of developing the disease as breastfeeding for more than 10 months yielded the lowest risk, according to NIH.

Lactation uses glucose and fat in the blood to be transferred into the breast tissue for milk production. Breastfeeding also allows the body to recover after pregnancy where insulin production is at its highest to keep blood sugar levels under control.

Breastfeeding also resets the body's metabolism especially after pregnancy, which contributes to the reduced risk of diabetes. Experts claim that other factors such as lifestyle, changes in postpartum weight and mother and newborn health may also cause adjustments to the body after pregnancy.

The implication of the study involves the need for breastfeeding promotions to high-risk women who are obese or pregnant with gestational diabetes, according to Erica Gunderson, author of the study and senior research scientist with Kaiser Permanente Northern California. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended for mothers to exclusively breastfeed their infants for at least a year.

Mothers over 35 years old are at a greater risk for type 2 diabetes especially with a family history of diabetes. About 5 to 9 percent of pregnant women develop high blood sugar levels despite having no diabetic conditions before pregnancy.

Breastfeeding is also the most cost-effective way to reduce type 2 diabetes in women and children. However, longer follow-up is needed to determine underlying biological mechanisms and how long the benefit of breastfeeding may last.