Women with gestational diabetes should breastfeed for at least two months as it may reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. A prospective cohort study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that breastfeeding for two months in women with gestational diabetes halved their risk of developing diabetes. The study included 1,035 women with gestational diabetes from California who had successfully delivered a baby. All women were given an oral glucose tolerance test for 6-9 weeks/year for 2 years after delivery. As a result, 12% of the study subjects developed type 2 diabetes within two years of delivery. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes was twice as high in women who exclusively formula fed their infants as in women who exclusively breastfed. The prevalence of diabetes was 0.395% in exclusively breastfed women compared to 0.879% in exclusively formula-fed women. From the results of this study, it was found that a 35-57% reduction in the 2-year incidence of diabetes was associated with breastfeeding intensity (from exclusive formula feeding to exclusive breastfeeding) and breastfeeding length (from <2 months to >10 months). Postnatal weight change in both associations had a very slight effect. To date, this study has the largest sample size and largest population of prospective type cohort studies exploring gestational diabetes. However, the study had a short follow-up period of 2 years. The authors said the study suggests a strong association between breastfeeding and the development of type 2 diabetes, and that the mechanisms involved may be different from those involved in weight loss. In conclusion, the authors concluded, “More health care resources need to be allocated to promote and support breastfeeding and to extend the duration of breastfeeding, which may reduce the risk of developing diabetes in midlife in women at high risk for diabetes.”