Most medical experts agree that breastfeeding is the best way to feed and should be done as much as possible. Ideally, babies should be breastfed for the first 6 months of life. But for those with diabetes, you may want to know if you can do this. Of course you can! If you plan to breastfeed, diabetes will not be a barrier to breastfeeding, and there will be unexpected benefits for the patient and baby.
Breastfeeding is not easy, and women with diabetes may face other complications, so they need to be prepared and informed about diabetes care.
What are the benefits of breastfeeding?
Breastfed babies, whether or not their mothers have diabetes, are known to be at less risk for health problems, including respiratory and ear infections, digestive disorders, and asthma. They also have a lower risk of developing type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
And there are some health benefits to being a mother.
If you have gestational diabetes (diabetes that first appears during pregnancy), your blood sugar levels may return to normal shortly after delivery. However, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future may still be higher than in normal mothers. Breastfeeding can help lower blood sugar, which may reduce the likelihood of developing diabetes later in life.
Whether you have gestational diabetes or type 1 or type 2 diabetes, breastfeeding can help shed the extra weight gained during pregnancy, which is another benefit to the mother’s health. Breastfeeding women are also less likely to develop breast and ovarian cancer, and they recover more quickly after delivery because the hormones released during breastfeeding promote uterine contractions.
While most experts, including those from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), say that breastfeeding is good for the health of women with diabetes, it can also create some barriers.
Is it hard to feed?
Feeding can be difficult for everyone, but people with diabetes have more trouble. For example, breast milk production may be slower in people with diabetes.
If you are overweight, this can also make feeding more difficult, especially when you first start feeding.
Consult your doctor or lactation consultant if you need help or are unsure if you should supplement with formula.
Is the medication safe for my baby?
In most cases, medications used during pregnancy can continue to be used while breastfeeding. However, it is best to consult your doctor.
Usually metformin is the first choice, and insulin is fine. If you have type 1 diabetes, you should continue to use insulin, although you may find that you need a lower dose during breastfeeding than you did before pregnancy.
People with type 1 diabetes may find that their body’s hormones have changed from the moment of delivery, and the amount of insulin needed for lactation may change, causing routine testing and treatment to follow suit. It may be necessary to consult a lactation consultant, a diabetologist, or a dietitian until the dosing for breastfeeding is mastered.
Low blood sugar
Milk production requires a lot of energy, as breast milk is rich in lactose. When breastfeeding a baby, sugar enters the baby’s body with the milk and blood sugar levels may drop by as much as 25%, resulting in a possible drop in blood sugar that is too low (hypoglycemia).
At this point, check your blood sugar more frequently and plan ahead. It is a good idea to have a snack before breastfeeding and to have a glass of juice at your heels during breastfeeding so that you can drink it immediately if hypoglycemia occurs. In addition, you should drink plenty of water to ensure your body’s water balance.
Daily changes
Whatever type of diabetes you have, you need the support of family and friends.
Pregnant women who are breastfeeding have a hard time taking time to prepare a healthy diet, and it is important to eat a healthy, regular diet for people with diabetes.
The lack of sleep and the time spent adjusting to living with a newborn can make the patient very forgetful, so someone else may also need to remind the patient to do things like test blood glucose, take insulin injections, or take oral medications.
If insulin is usually given before a meal, a certain amount of carbohydrate should be eaten after the injection. At this point, if the baby starts to cry and stops eating to soothe him/her, the baby may stop crying, but the patient may become hypoglycemic because of the delay in eating. Therefore, the baby should be placed in an infant sling while eating, or the feeding should be completed with a partner or someone else helping to watch the baby.
Other tests
Special attention should be paid to thrush. Those with diabetes are more likely to get yeast infections that cause sore and itchy nipples. If you develop a rash or blisters while feeding, or if you experience severe pain, seek medical attention.
It may also be necessary to have your doctor or pharmacist check the testers and medical supplies to make sure they are working properly.